Tragic Train Accident in Odisha: 70 Dead and Over 350 Injured
By Ajay Nath, Indrajit Kundu, Anupam Mishra
In a devastating incident, 70 people lost their lives and more than 350 individuals sustained injuries when a passenger train collided with derailed coaches of the Coromandel Express in the Balasore district of Odisha. The unfortunate accident occurred on Friday evening, involving the Coromandel Express, which operates between Shalimar station in West Bengal and Chennai. Additionally, a goods train was also involved in the collision, as confirmed by Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena.
#WATCH | Visuals from the site of the train accident in Odisha's Balasore district where two passenger trains and one goods train met with an accident leaving hundreds injured. Rescue operation is underway at the spot. pic.twitter.com/0mJADqUua4
— ANI (@ANI) June 2, 2023
The collision took place near the Bahanaga railway station in Balasore district, leaving several passengers trapped inside the overturned coaches of the superfast train. The Bengaluru-Howrah superfast express was the second train affected by the accident.
Following the incident, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced compensation for the victims’ families. An amount of Rs 10 lakh was promised for the kin of the deceased, while those with serious injuries would receive Rs 2 lakh, and those with minor injuries would be granted Rs 50,000. The Railway Minister also expressed his intention to visit the accident site in Odisha and ensure all necessary resources are deployed for the ongoing rescue operations.
The injured passengers were immediately admitted to Balasore Medical College, as well as Community Health Centers in Soro and Gopalpur, and a Primary Health Centre in Khantapada.
Here’s what we know so far: according to a railway official, several coaches of the Bengaluru-Howrah train (12864) traveling to Howrah derailed at Bahanaga Baazar in Balasore district and fell onto adjacent tracks. Subsequently, the Coromandel Express (12841) from Shalimar to Chennai, which was running on the adjacent tracks, collided with the derailed coaches of the previous train, causing its own coaches to capsize. Additionally, a goods train was also impacted by the accident, as the derailed coaches of the Coromandel Express struck the wagons of the goods train.
Ex-gratia compensation to the victims of this unfortunate train accident in Odisha;
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) June 2, 2023
₹10 Lakh in case of death,
₹2 Lakh towards grievous and ₹50,000 for minor injuries.
Efforts to rescue the affected passengers are underway, with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams present at the scene. Approximately 600-700 rescue personnel have been deployed to aid in the operation. However, the number of injured individuals exceeds the capacity of the available ambulances, with around 50 ambulances already present at the accident site.
#WATCH | Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena on Coromandel Express train accident in Balasore district.
— ANI (@ANI) June 2, 2023
(Video: Chief Secretary's office) pic.twitter.com/9HlqaNtfkZ
In response to the tragic incident, the office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) dispatched teams to assist in search and rescue operations. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik directed the state’s Disaster Management minister, Pramila Mallik, and senior SRC officials, along with the fire services, to supervise the ongoing operation. The District Magistrate of Balasore has also been instructed to visit the accident site and make necessary arrangements. Additionally, the authorities will communicate with the SRC for any additional assistance required at the state level.
Helpline numbers have been established in various areas to provide support to the victims and address inquiries. For Balasore, the helpline numbers are 8249591559 and 7978418322, for Howrah it is 033-26382217, for Kharagpur the numbers are 8972073925 and 9332392339, and for Shalimar, the helpline number is 9903370746.
The collision near the Bahanaga railway station has caused disruptions to the schedules of several trains, with many of them being canceled or diverted.
