New Delhi, June 3
In the midst of a horrific train crash in Odisha, the Ministry of Civil Aviation on Saturday advised airline companies to keep an eye on the unusual surge in fares of flights coming to and from Bhubaneswar.
The Ministry of civil aviation (MoCA) has issued an advisory to all airline companies not to increase fares. “In view of the unfortunate accident in Odisha, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has advised all airlines to monitor any abnormal surge in airfares to and from Bhubaneswar and other airports of the State and take necessary action regarding the same,” MoCA said.
Further, the ministry has advised all airlines not to charge any fee for cancellation and rescheduling to Bhubaneswar.
“Any cancellation and rescheduling on flights due to the incident may be done without penal charges,” MoCA has advised all the airline companies.
The accident involved the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Coromandel Express and a goods train on three separate tracks at Bahanaga Bazar Station in the State’s Balasore district.
According to Odisha Government’s Special Relief Commissioner’s office 17 coaches of the two trains had derailed and severely damaged on Friday evening.
As per the information received till now from the South Eastern Railway, there are 288 casualties. As total of 56 passengers have suffered grievous injury and 747 passengers were minorly injured.