Odisha train accident highlights: Toll tops 290, nearly 400 still in hospitals

"...We have not got any report of anybody from Tamil Nadu in the identified dead bodies till now. There are a large number of unidentified for which the Railway is running a train from Chennai in the evening. Any family member of passengers who are not in touch with them can take the train and come here to Bhadrak..," says Kumar Jayant, Tamil Nadu Principal Secretary- Revenue and Disaster Management, on #BalasoreTrainAccident

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has deputed Lok Sabha Leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and AICC In-Charge A Chella Kumar to immediately visit the train crash site in Odisha to take stock of the situation and oversee relief efforts being undertaken by INC workers and frontal organisations: Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal

I express my deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the Odisha train accident and wish a speedy recovery to the injured. The people of India are in our thoughts in this time of sorrow. Europe mourns with you: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

"Deeply saddened by the loss of hundreds of lives in a train accident in India..," tweets Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah deputes a team led by Minister Santosh Lad to ensure the safety of Kannadigas in the #BalasoreTrainAccident. The Chief Minister has sought reports from the Chief Secretary and has directed the concerned officers to visit the spot to ensure the safety of Kannadigas and provide all necessary support to them.

Balasore train accident: A meeting between Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena, along with State Government officials, and Tamil Nadu Police officials is underway at Special Relief Commissioner's office.

West Bengal government announces a compensation of ₹5 lakhs each for the next of kin of those people from the state who died in the accident. ₹1 Lakh each was announced for the injured and ₹50,000 each for the victims of the state.

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his condolences to President of India Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the deadly train collision in Odisha. 

“We share the grief of those who lost their loved ones in this tragic accident and wish a speedy recovery for those injured," reads the message.

Türkiye extends its condolences to the relatives of those who lost their lives in Balasore train accident as well as to people and Government of India and wish a speedy recovery to the injured.

“I am most pained and anguished by the terrible train disaster in Odisha. I extend my deepest sympathy and condolences to all the bereaved families,” said Sonia Gandhi. 

At least 261 people have died in India's worst rail accident in over two decades but there is still no clarity on whether the crash was a result of a technical glitch or human error. Read more

National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said a probe should be carried out to ascertain if the anti-collision device was installed on the route that witnessed a horrific train crash in Odisha's Balasore and fix the responsibility for the accident that has claimed at least 290 lives.

"Recently, the honourable railway minister announced that they have now got a major device whereby these accidents will not take place. I think this must be investigated whether that device was there and if it was, why was it not functioning? It is a major disaster that has not occurred for a long time in the country. I think we all want to know what happened," the former Union minister told PTI TV.

The foreign affairs ministries of Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan and Pakistan on Saturday extended their condolences over the deadly Balasore mishap that killed nearly 300 people in Odisha.

"This is a very horrific accident. The management will surely conduct investigation into the case," says Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar on Balasore train accident.

“Adequate compensation should be given (to families of victims). In today’s time, ₹10 lakh is not adequate,” Congress leader Pawan Bansal was quoted as saying by PTI.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee reached Odisha's Balasore where a triple-train collision on Friday evening left 261 dead.

The Coromandel Express train involved in the accident in Odisha's Balasore took the wrong track minutes before the tragedy, according to initial reports from the railways signalling control room. The Chennai-bound Coromandel Express took the loop line instead of the main line just ahead of Bahanagar Bazar station on Friday evening, a senior railways official said on condition of anonymity. Read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has left for Odisha where he will review the situation in the wake of the train mishap, according to PMO.

As per the information received till now, there are 261 casualties. Injured passengers have been taken to the Hospitals of Gopalpur, Khantapara, Balasore, Bhadrak and Soro.

Hours after 238 passengers were killed in a massive triple train collision in Odisha's Balasore district, the railways confirmed that there was no 'Kavach' system on the route, which might have stopped the express trains from colliding with each other. Read more

Army columns were rushed in and Air Force helicopters deployed for relief and rescue operations for passengers injured in the triple train crash site at Bahana Nagar in Odisha, a Defence official said on Saturday.

The operations are being carried out in coordination with the railway authorities on the ground, he said.

"Army medical and engineering teams with ambulances and support services have been deployed from Eastern Command," he said. Army columns, including engineering and medical personnel, have been rushed to the accident site from its installations at Barrackpore and Panagarh in West Bengal to the rail disaster site, the official said. Two Mi17s were deployed for evacuation of the injured passengers, he said. (PTI)

“It's an unfortunate incident. It happened due to some technical reasons, inquiry has been ordered by Railways. PM Modi is also coming here,” Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan said.

Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya informed two teams of doctors from @AIIMSBhubaneswr have been dispatched for Balasore & Cuttack to assist in relief operations at the rail accident site in Odisha.

We are providing all required help & medical assistance to the victims of the tragic train accident to save precious lives.

A family of three, who was travelling in one of the trains that were involved in Balasore train accident, survived the accident & returned to their home in Malubasan village in Mahisadal, Purba Medinipur of West Bengal. (ANI)

Helpline numbers  being circulated for assistance in the wake of train accident in Balasore, Odisha.