Odisha Train Accident: Over 50 Dead, 600 Injured As Trains Collide; NDRF Teams at Site, Rescue Ops Underway
At least 50 people died and 350 were injured on Friday due to a three-way accident at Bahanagar in Odisha’s Balasore district, involving the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, Coromandel Express, and a goods train. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the situation and spoke to Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. “Rescue ops are underway at the site of the mishap and all possible assistance is being given to those affected,” he said. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has expressed deep concern over the train accident near Balasore and stated that the government’s top priority is to save the lives of injured passengers, according to an official statement.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah called the train accident “deeply agonizing” and said “NDRF team has already reached the accident site, and other teams are also rushing to join the rescue operation.”
According to initial inputs, five coaches of the Shalimar-Chennai Coromondal Express have derailed. “Initial indications suggest a side collision. Rescue teams are en route to the site,” according to CNN-News18 reports.
CPRO Southern Railway has confirmed the accident, stating that the Coromandel Express derailed near Bahanaga station in Balasore, Odisha. “Multiple coaches are reported to have derailed,” the statement read.
Ten injured passengers have been admitted to Balasore Medical College for treatment. In response to the incident, the medical college and all hospitals in and around Balasore have been placed on high alert. Additionally, SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack have also been alerted and prepared to provide assistance.
A medical team has been dispatched from Kharagpur and five ambulances have been sent from Bhadrak.
The Directorate of Medical Education and Training (DMET) Odisha said they have dispatched 15 ambulances to the scene and patients are being shifted to Soro CHC (Community Health Centre). “We expect some to be referred to higher facilities” for further treatment, it said.
Two fire teams have also been dispatched from Bhadrak district. DGP Fire Services Dr Sudhanshu Sarangi has departed from the headquarters to reach the accident spot.
Special Relief Commissioner Office in a statement said, “An Express Train met with an accident near Bahanaga railway station in Balasore district. Teams have left for the spot for search and rescue operation. Collector, Balasore has also been directed to reach the spot to make all necessary arrangements and intimate the SRC if any additional help is required from the state level.”
The State government has issued an emergency contact number: 91 6782262286 for people to obtain information regarding the incident.
Odisha Revenue Minister Pramila Mallik has been directed to reach the accident spot.
Last year, a goods train derailed at Korai railway station in Odisha’s Jajpur district, resulting in wagons crashing into the waiting passengers, leading to the deaths of at least three individuals and injuring four others.
Station staff had then told PTI news agency that the loco pilot of the empty goods train, which was travelling from Dongoaposi in Jharkhand to Chhatrapur in Odisha, suddenly applied brakes. This sudden braking action caused eight wagons to derail and plough into the passengers on the platform and in the waiting hall.
