BALASORE (Odisha): At least 261 people have been killed and over 900 injured in the deadly train accident that took place in Odisha’s Balasore on Friday, involving two passenger trains — the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express and the Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express — and a goods train.
The incident took place around 7 pm on June 2 near the Bahanaga Baazar station in Balasore district, about 250 km south of Kolkata and 170 km north of Bhubaneswar. Visuals from the site showed overturned coaches and desparate attempts by rescuers to pull out anyone alive.
People could be seen escaping from the overturned compartments.
Responders from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), a team from Centralised Traffic Control (CTC) and the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) reached the accident spot to carry out rescue and search operations.
The coaches of the Coromandel Express derailed after colliding with a goods train.
All BSKY-accredited private hospitals in Odisha were instructed to admit the train accident victims and provide emergency treatment.
Visuals captured by ANI drone showed derailed coaches of trains at the site.
According to a preliminary report, 17 coaches of two trains derailed and severely damaged.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, early on Saturday morning, took stock of the situation and assured that a detailed high-level inquiry will be conducted into the mishap.
Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena said efforts were under way to cut the only remaining bogie that was badly damaged.
Visuals captured by the ANI drone showed locals including teams of NDRF, SRC and CTC assisting emergency services personnel in rescue operations.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik met the people, who are admitted to a hospital in Balasore, after getting injured in the Balasore train accident.
The latest aerial visuals from ANI’s drone camera show the extent of damage.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level meeting with railway officials on Saturday to take stock of the situation. He will also visit the accident side and meet the injured in hospital. (ANI)