Odisha train tragedy: A serious rail accident involving three trains- the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and a items train – occurred on Friday evening at 7 PM in Balasore, Odisha. At least 50 folks have been killed and greater than 350 injured in a horrific triple train crash and the loss of life toll might rise as rescue operations at unpreceded giant scale involving 115 ambulances are underway.
Several coaches of the 12864 Bengaluru-Howrah train travelling to Howrah derailed at Bahanagabazar and fell on adjoining tracks. “These derailed coaches collided with 12841 Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and its coaches capsized too,” a senior official mentioned. A items train was also concerned within the accident because the coaches of the Coromandel Express hit its wagons after getting derailed, the official mentioned.
Hundreds of individuals injured
Over 350 folks have been admitted to totally different hospitals throughout the district, officers mentioned, including that each one personal and authorities hospitals have been placed on alert within the close by districts, together with state capital Bhubaneswar. So far, 50 our bodies may very well be introduced out from below the overturned coaches, they mentioned. A PTI reporter on the spot mentioned a number of folks have been trapped below the derailed coaches, and locals have been aiding emergency companies personnel to rescue them, however darkness was hindering the operation.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s response
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw mentioned he was dashing to the accident website. “Rushing to the positioning in Odisha. My prayers for the speedy restoration of the injured and condolences to the bereaved households. Rescue groups mobilised from Bhubaneswar and Kolkata. NDRF, State govt. groups and Airforce also mobilised. Will take all palms required for the rescue ops,” he tweeted.
PM Modi, Odisha CM evaluate state of affairs
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik mentioned he has reviewed the state of affairs, and might be travelling to the accident website early Saturday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned he was distressed by the accident, and spoke with Vaishnaw to take inventory of the state of affairs.
“Distressed by the train accident in Odisha. In this hour of grief, my ideas are with the bereaved households. May the injured recuperate quickly. Spoke to Railway Minister @AshwiniVaishnaw and took inventory of the state of affairs.
Rescue ops are underway on the website of the mishap and all potential help is being given to these affected,” he tweeted.
Ex-gratia announcement by Railways Minister, PM
PM Modi introduced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF to the subsequent of kin of every deceased and Rs. 50,000 for injured. The Railways Minister also declared compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the deceased and Rs 2 lakh for these grievously injured and Rs 50,000 for individuals who acquired minor accidents.
Rescue operations underway
Four models of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), three models of NDRF and 115 ambulances have been working to rescue the injured, officers mentioned. The estimated energy of those six groups is greater than 240 personnel, they mentioned. The groups are geared up with stretchers, gasoline cutters, lifting pads, first-aid kits and different gear, and sniffer canines, NDRF Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Manoj Kumar Yadav advised PTI. While one National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) workforce, positioned at its regional response centre in Balasore, is current on the accident website, 5 extra are being rushed from Mundali in Cuttack district, about 100 km from the crash website, the officers mentioned. At least 50 folks have been killed and greater than 350 injured in a horrific triple train crash on Friday in Odisha involving the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and a items train.
Bengal CM steps in
Expressing concern over the accident, through which numerous folks from West Bengal have been concerned, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee mentioned she was monitoring the state of affairs together with the chief secretary and different officers. “We are coordinating with Odisha authorities and South Eastern Railways for our folks’s sake. Our emergency management room has been activated directly with numbers 033- 22143526/ 22535185.
All out efforts for rescue, retrieval, support and help initiated,” she tweeted. West Bengal Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi mentioned the state was sending a workforce led by minister Manas Bhunia and MP Dola Sen to the spot.
Here is the checklist of cancelled trains on the affected route
(*2*)
DRM Kharagpur tweeted helpline numbers:
Train no 12841 UP Coromandal Express and Train no 12864 DN has been derailed close to Bahanaga bazaar, mentioned DRM Kharagpur in a tweet.
Helpdesk opened at SHM, HWH, KGP & BLS.
- HWH – 03326382217
- KGP- 8972073925, 9332392339
- BLS – 8249591559, 7978418322
- SHM – 9903370746
Helpline numbers arrange by SCR:
- 1. SCR Hqrs, Rail Nilayam, Secunderabad: 040 – 27788516
- 2. Vijayawada Rly Station 0866 – 2576924
- 3. Rajahmundry Rly Stn: 0883 – 2420541
- 4. Renigunta Railway Stn: 9949198414.
- 5. Tirupati Railway Stn: 7815915571
“At round 7pm, 10-12 coaches of the Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express derailed close to Baleswar and fell on the alternative observe. After a while, one other train from Yeswanthpur to Howrah dashed into these derailed coaches ensuing within the derailment of its 3-4 coaches,” mentioned Railway Spokesperson Amitabh Sharma.
Other helpline numbers-
- Howrah Helpline Number : 033-26382217
- Kharagpur Helpline Number: 8972073925 & 9332392339
- Balasore Helpline Number: 8249591559 & 7978418322
- Shalimar Helpline Number: 9903370746
Bhadrak helpline quantity in reference to derailment: 7894099570 and 9337116973
Congress leaders react
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former occasion chief Rahul Gandhi expressed unhappiness over the train tragedy in Odisha and urged occasion employees and leaders to increase all help wanted for rescue efforts.
In a tweet, Kharge mentioned, “Deeply saddened by the horrible train tragedy involving Coromandel Express in Odisha. Our ideas and prayers are with the victims.” “We urge the authorities to expedite rescue operations and supply reduction to the injured. Request Congress employees to offer all potential assist,” the Congress chief mentioned.
Rahul Gandhi expressed anguish over the tragic information of the accident. “My coronary heart goes out to the bereaved households. Wishing for the speedy restoration of these injured. I urge Congress employees and leaders to increase all help wanted for rescue efforts,” Gandhi mentioned.
Congress common secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, in a tweet in Hindi, mentioned, “Received the unhappy information of the train accident in Balasore, Odisha. My deepest condolences to the households of the deceased. I pray to God for the speedy restoration of all injured.” Appeal to all Congress employees to offer all assist in the reduction work, she mentioned.
Tamil Nadu CM Stalin dials Naveen Patnaik
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Ok Stalin on Friday spoke to his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik following the accident and introduced that he was deputing a four-member panel to coordinate the rescue of Tamils on the train Expressing shock over the accident, Stalin tweeted that he spoke to Patnaik and mentioned the small print shared by the latter concerning the accident have been “worrying”. The chief minister also condoled the lives misplaced within the incident.
“I’ve requested Transport Minister S S Sivasankar and three IAS officers to hurry to Odisha to rescue the Tamils concerned within the accident. Have directed organising a helpline,” he added. Later, a state authorities launch mentioned Stalin provided Patnaik, medical help to the injured, and deputing medical groups and different support to Odisha, if required.
The Tamil Nadu authorities’s helpine numbers are: 1070 (toll-free), 94458 69843, 94458 69848 (Whatsapp) and 044-28593990.
Also read- Odisha: Coromandel categorical train derails close to Bahanaga station in Balasore, a number of feared trapped
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