More than 200 people were killed and around 900 injured in one of India's deadliest railway accidents involving Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and a goods train in Odisha.
"Death toll rises to 233 in the Balasore Train Accident," Odisha Chief Secretary PK Jena tweeted on Saturday morning.
Different versions have emerged about the course of the accident that happened Friday night. Some officials said Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, which was on its way to Howrah, derailed first, and collided with the Coromandel Express, which then hit wagons of a goods train. Railway Spokesperson Amitabh Sharma, however, said that the Coromandel Express derailed first, and its 10-12 coaches fell on the line on which the Bengaluru-Howrah Express was travelling, forcing it to jump off the tracks.
These three accidents took place near the Bahanga Baazar station in the Balasore district, 250km south of Kolkata and 170km north of Bhubaneswar.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik who rushed to the control room declared one-day state mourning on Saturday in the wake of the deadly triple train crash. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she is closely monitoring the situation, and is likely to arrive at Balasore on Saturday.
Rescue operations
Officials in Bhubaneswar said 115 ambulances, 50 buses and 45 mobile health units were working at the accident site, besides 1,200 personnel. The bodies were being taken to the hospitals in all kinds of vehicles, including tractors. Along with NDRF units, the Air Force has also been called in for rescue operations.
The injured passengers are being treated in various hopitals in Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Jajpur & Cuttack districts. Locals, who heard the loud noise of the crash, were the first to rush in ans start rescue and relief operations. More than 2,000 people gathered at the Balasore Medical College and Hospital in the night to help the injured, and many also donated blood.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed distress over the horrific crash and announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the family of the dead and Rs 50,000 for the injured from the PM's National Relief Fund (PMNRF). Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh for those who have died, Rs 2 lakh for those seriously injured and Rs 50,000 for those who sustained minor injuries in the accident.
Multiple trains have been rescheduled and over 30 trains cancelled in the wake of the crash.
