Train's toxic content corrodes credibility

Trust has been the biggest casualty in East Palestine, a small town in the state of Ohio, United States, ever since a freight train pulling cars carrying hazardous material derailed on the evening of Feb 3.

While the local government ordered a "controlled burning" of the toxic chemicals the train was carrying, forcing hundreds to evacuate, local residents have raised lawsuits drawing worldwide media attention. Reports say they have asked Norfolk Southern, the railway's management company, to pay no less than $5 million in compensation, while bearing their lifetime medical costs. Some animal raisers asked NS to pay for possible harm done to their dogs, while others are looking for compensation for their foxes, cows and chicken.

On Feb 8, News Nation reported that police at the site treated their journalist badly and took him away; later the Ohio governor had to apologize.

The incident has brought lack of trust in local governments in the US to the fore. The NS has witnessed four severe derailments in as many months, but has continued to operate normally. Worse, when the governor of Ohio issued orders for the burning of the freight cars, they blacked out information about them containing hazardous chemicals. The public got to know of the freight's content only through media reports.

Reports say a local woman blamed the toxic content for the death of her five hens and a rooster and shot back fiercely when a journalist doubted her. Anger there is palpable.

However, the NS seems too stubborn to notice. Reports say it is still considering "donating" $25,000 to East Palestine town and giving $1,000 each to affected residents.

Till Monday, the US Environmental Protection Agency had checked 291 houses but not found any evidence of hydrogen chloride leaks. At stake here is public trust and it remains to be seen if the authorities can win it back any time soon.