Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong offers condolences over Odisha train accident

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to express his condolences following the train accident in Odisha, which has claimed 288 lives and injured over 1,000 people.

Singapore’s High Commissioner to India Simon Wong in a tweet shared details regarding the text written by Lee Hsien Loong. Simon Wong tweeted, “Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has written to PM @narendramodi to express condolences on the Odisha train derailment.”

Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong penned, “Dear Prime Minister Modi, It was with great sadness that I learnt about the horrific train derailment in Balasore, Odisha, on 2 June 2023. On behalf of the Government of Singapore, I extend my heartfelt condolences to you and the affected families. Our thoughts are with you and the people of India.”

The three-way train accident on Friday involving the Bengaluru-Howrah superfast Express, the Coromandel Express, and the goods train on three separate tracks at Bahanaga Bazar Station in Odisha’s Balasore district has killed 288 people and injured over 1,000 more.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who visited the Balasore triple train collision site on Sunday, stated that the accident, which killed 288 passengers, was caused by a change in electronic interlocking.

According to Ashwini Vaishnaw, the commissioner of railway safety has investigated the matter and identified the cause of the incident as well as the people responsible for it.

“The commissioner of railway safety has investigated the matter and let the investigation report come but we have identified the cause of the incident and the people responsible for it… It happened due to a change in electronic interlocking,” Vaishnaw told the media.