Odisha triple train accident latest updates: 207 killed, 900 injured; announced compensation

Bhubaneswar: At least 207 people were killed and around 900 injured in a horrific train accident involving Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and a goods train in Odisha. Officials gave this information on Saturday. Quoting the latest report from Odisha’s Special Relief Commissioner, Chief Secretary PK Jena said the death toll has now risen to 207.

Jena tweeted, “The death toll in the train accident is rising. The latest report by @SRC_Odisha from the accident site puts the figure at 207. The number of injured is around 900.” The accident took place around 7 pm on Friday near Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore district, about 250 km south of Kolkata and 170 km north of Bhubaneswar.

Enroute Howrah, several coaches of the 12864 Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express derailed and fell on the adjacent tracks, an official said. “These derailed coaches collided with 12841 Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and its coaches also overturned,” he said. He said a goods train was also involved in the accident as some coaches of the Chennai-bound Coromandel Express collided with its coaches after the derailment.

Railway spokesperson Amitabh Sharma told PTI video that the Coromandel Express derailed first and 10-12 of its coaches fell on the line on which the Bengaluru-Howrah Express was traveling, causing it to derail. Odisha Chief Secretary Jena said late night that three trains were involved in the accident. The differing versions of the accident could not be immediately reconciled.

Odisha’s Special Relief Commissioner Satyabrata Sahu said that those injured in the accident are undergoing treatment in various hospitals. All government and private hospitals in nearby districts including AIIMS in Bhubaneswar have been put on alert. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav, who is visiting the spot, said that the Air Force has also been called in to help in the rescue operation.

“Running to the site in Odisha. My prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured and condolences to the bereaved families. Rescue teams mobilized from Bhubaneswar and Kolkata. NDRF, State Government teams and Air Force also mobilized. All necessary on hand Will take.” Rescue operation,” he tweeted. Officials in Bhubaneswar said 115 ambulances, 50 buses and 45 mobile health units were working at the accident site, in addition to 1,200 personnel. The dead bodies were being taken to the hospital by all types of vehicles including tractors.

Locals said that they heard continuous rumblings, following which they rushed to the spot and found the derailed coaches, which were nothing but a “mutilated pile of steel”. “Locals really came forward to help us,” one of the passengers, Rupam Banerjee, told reporters. Piyush Poddar, a resident of Berhampur in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, was on his way to Tamil Nadu to join work on the Coromandel Express , Then this accident happened.

“We got a jolt and suddenly we saw the bogie of the train turning to one side. Many of us were thrown out of the compartment by the speed of the derailment. When we managed to crawl, we saw bodies all around,” he said. Found lying down.” Over 2,000 people gathered at the Balasore Medical College and Hospital through the night to help the injured, and many also donated blood.

Gas cutters are being used to retrieve the bodies from under the derailed coaches. Another traveler said, “Some of the scenes at the site were too terrifying to describe.” The railway tracks at the spot were almost destroyed as the damaged coaches lay scattered around, some of them rammed onto others, while some bogies overturned due to the collision.

Railways announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased, Rs 2 lakh for the seriously injured and Rs 50,000 for the lightly injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed grief over the accident, and announced an additional ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured from the PM’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).

“Anguished by the train accident in Odisha. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. Wishing speedy recovery to the injured. Spoke to Railway Minister @AshwiniVaishnav & took stock of the situation. At the site Rescue operations underway. All possible assistance being extended to the accident and affected people,” he tweeted.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said he would visit the spot by morning. Odisha government issued helpline 06782-262286. Railway helplines are 033-26382217 (Howrah), 8972073925 (Kharagpur), 8249591559 (Balasore) and 044- 25330952 (Chennai). Expressing concern over the accident, which involved a large number of people from West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she was monitoring the situation along with the Chief Secretary and other officials.

West Bengal Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi said that a team led by state minister Manas Bhunia and MP Dola Sen is being sent to the spot.
So far 18 long distance trains have been canceled due to the accident on Howrah-Chennai main line in Kharagpur division of South Eastern Railway.