Abstract
The Balasore train tragedy occurred on 2 June 2023 in Balasore, Odisha, India. The article is dedicated to a study that analyses public sentiments expressed through YouTube videos, titles, descriptions, comments, and engagement metrics related to the tragedy. The present study employs a quantitative research design with a cross-sectional approach, using the software Webometric Analyst, Python package, and the YouTube Data API to extract data and relevant information from the YouTube platform. The findings shed light on public sentiments and discussions surrounding the incident, revealing that the YouTube video titles predominantly aimed to provide objective information, with some expressing negative sentiments and a smaller fraction focusing on positive aspects related to the tragedy. The video descriptions displayed a neutral sentiment, presenting factual information without strong emotional connotations. The sentiment analysis of video comments reflected a similar trend, with neutral comments being the most prevalent, followed by negative and positive sentiments. The comments exhibited a moderate level of subjectivity, incorporating personal opinions and emotions. This analysis revealed the diverse range of sentiments expressed by viewers, encompassing objective information, negative sentiments, and some positive perspectives regarding the train tragedy. The study contributes to understanding the prevailing sentiment landscape and the diverse range of perspectives expressed by viewers.
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