The unfortunate collision of two Indian passenger trains in Odisha state in which nearly 300 people died and hundreds are injured is so painful (“Indian train collision death toll nears 300, another 900 injured,” June 3, Gulf Today website).

According to the report, the death toll from the collision of two Indian passenger trains in Odisha state has surged to 280 and more than 900 are injured, a state government official told the media on Saturday, making the rail accident the country’s deadliest in more than two decades. Sudhanshu Sarangi, director general of Odisha Fire Services, also said that “rescue work is still going on” and there were “a lot of serious injuries”, according to the media.

Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena said on Twitter that over 200 ambulances had been called to the scene of Friday’s accident in Odisha’s Balasore district and 100 additional doctors, on top of 80 already there, had been mobilised.

The loss of hundreds of precious lives made the world sad and it’s important that the government conduct an independent inquiry to identify the reason why the deadly incident happened and be careful in the future.

I am sure the Indian government will not leave any stone unturned and provide injured people medical facilities so they can get well soon and start their normal life.

There is no doubt the world is in shock after the deadly collision of two Indian passenger trains in Odisha state, the deadliest collision in the last two decades.

I would like to offer my condolences to the people who lost their family members in the unfortunate incident and pray that the Almight grant the departed souls rest in peace.

Usman Akhtar, By email