It was really heart-breaking to read the news about the tragic train accident near Bahanaga railway station nearer to Balasore in Odisha in which nearly 300 people have lost their lives. Looking at the multiple accident, it is feared that much more people would have died. We deeply mourn the death of all of these people who have become victims of this accident.
As per reports, more than 1100 people have been injured and wounded, many of whom are in serious condition. The injured are being treated in all the nearby hospitals from Balasore to Cuttack.
As per our information received so far, no bank employees/family members have been affected in this accident. However, we are informed that the mother-in-law, brother-in-law and wife of Com. Gautam Das, a casual worker in Indian Bank, Balasore have lost their lives in this accident. Our State Federation is in touch with him to extend any help.
News is slowly coming out that the accident could be due to signal failure, etc. A probe has been ordered to know the cause of the accident. With our experience, we know that hardly anything will come out of such probes. But such train accidents happen now and then, and innocent people lose their lives.
There is a need to modernize the Railways, in terms of various facets of its operation but instead of that, we only observe the anxiety on the part of the Government to privatise this vital public transport system. Reports are coming that thousands of posts remain vacant in Railways including in crucial departments like Signals and Communications. Unfortunately, Government is ignoring these issues.
Our help to the affected people:
At Balasore, under the leadership of Com. Sudarsana Jena, Secretary of our State Federation, All Odisha Bank Employees Association, food packets, fruits, water, etc. were supplied to the injured people.
Similarly, at Bhadrak, Com. Jagannath Rout, Secretary of our AOBEA actively participated with other comrades and local organisations in distributing basic necessities. Bank employees there also donated blood.
We salute and appreciate Com. Sudarsana Jena (Union Bank of India) and Com. Jagannath Rout (Bank of India) and all our local comrades in Balasore and Bhadrak for their noble initiatives and immediate help extended to the affected people.
We contacted both of them and conveyed our greetings and appreciation for the immediate relief work undertaken by them. We have requested them to continue their good work and assured them that AIBEA will extend any support that they require in this regard.
All Odisha Bank Employees Association has also decided to orgnise a State level Blood Donation camp at Bhubaneswar/Cuttack in a day or two so that blood can be given to the needy people who are injured in the accident and are taking treatment in various hospitals.
With greetings
Yours Comradely,
C.H. VENKATACHALAM GENERAL SECRETARY