As the death toll in Friday's train accident in Odisha's Balasore continues to climb to 288, the civil aviation ministry has advised airlines not to levy penal charges for cancellation and rescheduling of air tickets.
The train crash, the fourth deadliest in India according to available records, happened near the Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore district, about 250 km south of Kolkata and 170 km north of Bhubaneswar, prompting the Railway Ministry to order a probe.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has sent an advisory to arlines to monitor any abnormal surge in airfares to and from Bhubaneswar and other airports of Odisha in view of the accident.
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Besides, the ministry said that any cancellation and rescheduling on flights due to the incident may be done without penal charges.
Envoys and missions of several countries condoled the loss of lives in the tragic train accident in Odisha and expressed solidarity with India.
The railway ministry has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the deceased, Rs 2 lakh for those severely injured, and Rs 50,000 for those who sustained minor injuries
(With inputs from PTI)
