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Odisha tragedy: What we know so far after accident involving three trains

Jun 03, 2023 01:37 AM IST

10 to 12 coaches of the 12841 Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express derailed near Baleswar and fell on the opposite track around 7 pm.

At least 207 people have died and more than 900 have been injured in a horrific three-train crash Friday evening in Odisha's Balasore district. The trains involved were the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and a goods train. The injured have been rushed to hospitals in Balasore and the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.

Odisha train accident
Odisha train accident

News agency PTI quoted Odisha's Director-General of Fire Services Sudhanshu Sarangi as saying that no more bodies are there inside the derailed coaches, however rescue operations will continue through the night to find people stuck under the trains. A total of 200 ambulances, 50 buses, and 45 mobile health units were dispatched to the scene of the accident, along with a team of 1,200 personnel dedicated to conducting rescue operations.

Full list of helpline numbers for Coromandel Express accident in Odisha

How and where did it happen?

The officials said Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express left Shalimar station at 3.20 pm and reached Balasore at 6.30 pm. 10 to 12 coaches of the train derailed near Baleswar and fell on the opposite track at around 7.20 pm.

They were hit by a superfast express the 12864 Bengaluru-Howrah that was on the down line derailed at 6.55 pm. Three to four of its coaches derailed in the mishap.

Then some of the derailed coaches from the first collision were hit by the wagons of a goods train in a sickening chain reaction.

The differing versions of the accident could not be immediately reconciled.

Also read: 'Distressed by train accident': PM Modi's first reaction to Coromandel Express mishap

What were the trains' running route?

The Coromandel Express was on the way to Chennai Central station from the Shalimar station near Kolkata when the accident took place.

The superfast train was travelling from Bengaluru to Howrah.

The route of the goods train has not yet been revealed.

How many people were killed or hurt?

At least 200 people have died and another 900 have been injured.

Rescue operations

According to Special Relief Commissioner of Odisha Satyabrata Sahu, around 60 ambulances have been mobilised to take the injured to hospitals.

Three units of the National Disaster Response Force and four of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force, and 22 Fire Services personnel have been deployed for the rescue operations at the accident spot.

Additional teams from the state's fire and emergency service and those from police and the Indian Air Force have also been deployed, union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw tweeted. He said he was rushing to the scene of the tragedy.

READ | Odisha train tragedy: Rahul Gandhi, Kejriwal, other leaders express grief

One NDRF team has already reached the accident site, officials said at 11.30 pm, noting that five more were being rushed to the spot. The estimated strength of these six teams is more than 240 personnel. These teams are equipped with stretchers, gas cutters, lifting pads, first-aid kits and other necessary search-and-rescue equipment, as well as sniffer dogs, a senior NDRF official told PTI.

Compensation announced

The Railways announced an amount of 10 lakh for the families of those killed. Those badly hurt will get 2 lakh and those with minor injuries 50,000.

Additionally, the Prime Minister's Office announced that an ex-gratia of 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased in the mishap. The injured would be given 50,000.

Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik will travel to the accident site early Saturday. Prime minister Narendra Modi said he was distressed by the accident, and that he had spoken with Ashwini Vaishnaw to take stock of the situation.

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