The internet is known for being extremely quick in commenting whatever its netizens can comment.
And when it comes to something that they haven't ever seen or heard before, such incident would quickly propel itself as the most trending topic in various social media platforms.
This time, the #OdishaTrainAccident, #OdishaTrainCollision and others similar have become trending topics due to how tragic the outcome is.
With at least 288 people lost their lives and more than 1,000 others were injured after a horrific train tragedy in Odisha, India, the incident is nothing like many parts of the world have ever seen before.
Let alone the internet.
The collision involved three trains.
It was dusk, in 2 June 2023, when people packed two trains, with some standing up, while many remained seated. Some had just finished their dinner, and some were trying to rest.
Some were even sleeping and sitting on the floor as they didn’t have seats.
The trains were literally over-crowded. Nothing unusual, though.
But suddenly, the two passenger trains, the 12841 Coromandel Express (between Shalimar and MGR Chennai Central) and the 12864 SMVT Bengaluru–Howrah SF Express (between SMVT Bengaluru and Howrah), collided on the Howrah–Chennai Main Line near Bahanaga Bazar in Balasore district in the eastern state of Odisha.
The third train, a freight train, was stationary when it was involved in the crash.
Everything happened almost instantly, at about 7 pm local time.
It began when the Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express received signal indication to move on to the mainline towards Chennai, but was wrongly veered to a loop line.
This was when the train collided with the rear-end of a goods train, with a speed well exceeding 100 kilometers per hour.
The momentum of the train was so huge, that its locomotive that weighs hundreds of tons climbed on top of the goods train, while its remaining 22 compartments packed with passengers derailed.
This collision also managed to derail three of the train's last coaches, making them parallel to the tracks.
And these coaches were then hit by the last two coaches of 12864 Sir M Visveswaraya Terminal Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, which was crossing the station at the time at speed of also above 100 kilometers per hour.
Consequently, the metal to metal collision of these 5 coaches in total saw the maximum casualties.
According to initial reports by Pramila Mallik, Odisha state's disaster management minister, 288 people were killed in the crash, and more than a 1,000 people were injured.
The primary cause of the mishap was first identified as a signal failure.
The incident that happened the eastern Indian state of Odisha's Balasore, is considered India's deadliest railway crash in more than 20 years.
According to the Chief Secretary of Odisha, Pradeep Jena, three National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) units, four Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force units, more than 15 fire rescue teams, 100 doctors, 200 police personnel and 200 ambulances were mobilized for the rescue operations.
It was reported that more teams were dispatched to the site, as well as local bus companies assisting in transportation.
Local civilians also helped, with many of them providing those in the scene with food and water, as well as helping them retrieve their luggage where possible.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, said that the root cause of the country’s worst train accident in nearly three decades have been identified, and that the facts shall be revealed soon.
"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. Right now our focus is on restoration," Vaishnaw said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also visited the scene, and met with the rescue team and also with the injured people at hospitals in Cuttack.
He was briefed by the Railways Minister, as well as officers of the disaster management teams.
PM Modi said that strong action would be taken against anyone found guilty in the train crash and no one would be spared.
"Those found guilty will be punished stringently," Modi said.
And in respond to Modi, the Railways Minister said a high-level committee is being formed to investigate the train crash.
He has announced a compensation to those affected by the tragic incident.
State-run Indian Railways, which said tgat it transports more than 13 million people every day, has been working to improve its patchy safety record. Following the tragic incident, it blamed on ageing infrastructure.
But again, the internet has its own opinion, and that netizens have expressed their words concerning the incident.
Condolences poured in, as well as donations and charities.
After that, the internet then started accusing certain individuals, as according to them, things go from mourning to political.
For example, many alleged foul play.
Even as the railway board and other relevant authorities are still conducting an investigation, many social media users are convinced that it was an act of "clear sabotage."
Many started blaming one person to another, and netizens appear to accuse several contenders for the role of saboteur. As a result, the discussions have went from condolences to hatred, to also political and communal.
In this case, some blamed Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee, whereas others were convinced it had something to do with the Congress.
Some even dubbed the train collision as a modus operandi of some terror groups.
Read: The Internet Mourns For The Lives Lost During The Crowd Crush In Itaewon, South Korea