Odisha train crash live: 'Balasore Collector confirms death toll as 288'
The train crash happened near the Bahanaga Baazar station in Balasore district, about 250 km south of Kolkata and 170 km north of Bhubaneswar, around 7 pm on Friday, prompting the Railway Ministry to order a probe.
CHENNAI: In one of the worst railway disasters in India, at least 288 people were killed and more than 1,100 injured when three trains collided one after another in a horrific sequence in Odisha's Balasore district, setting off a massive rescue and evacuation process, officials said on Saturday.
The train crash happened near the Bahanaga Baazar station in Balasore district, about 250 km south of Kolkata and 170 km north of Bhubaneswar, around 7 pm on Friday, prompting the Railway Ministry to order a probe.
The inquiry into the train accident will be led by A M Chowdhary, Commissioner of Railway Safety, South East Circle, the Indian Railways said in a statement.
Several coaches of the 12864 Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, on the way to Howrah, derailed and fell on adjacent tracks, an official said.
"These derailed coaches collided with the 12841 Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and its coaches capsized too," he said.
A goods train was also involved in the accident as some of the coaches of the Coromandel Express, which was heading to Chennai, hit its wagons after getting derailed, he added.
Locals said they heard consecutive loud sounds, following which they rushed to the spot and found the derailed coaches, which were nothing but "a mangled heap of steel".
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.
The railways announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased, Rs 2 lakh for those grievously injured and Rs 50,000 for those who got minor injuries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi too expressed his distress 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).
Live Updates
3 Jun 2023 8:42 PM IST"A 24-hour control room has been set up to monitor the relief activities for the Odisha train accident. A roundabout control room has been opened in Medinipur. The death toll rose from the Balasore train mishap. Helpline has been opened at Tamluk in east Medinipur. Some people are untraced, the search is on for the missing." says Rahul Pandey, SDPO.
- 3 Jun 2023 8:23 PM IST
"The rescue operation is almost complete. The operation of the last bogie has started. So far the death toll has been around 288. The injured are undergoing treatment", Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena, Bhubaneswar on the Odisha train tragedy.
- 3 Jun 2023 8:20 PM IST
Tamil Nadu Youth Welfare & Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and Tamil Nadu Transport Minister SS Sivasankar along with government officials met Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
- 3 Jun 2023 8:17 PM IST
We want full transparency, this is not time to do politics, this is time to focus on making sure that restoration happens at the earliest: Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reacts to an incident earlier today at Balasore train accident site where WB CM Mamata Banerjee disagreed with him on the death toll.
#WATCH | Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reacts to an incident earlier today at #BalasoreTrainAccident site where WB CM Mamata Banerjee disagreed with him on the death toll, says, "...we want full transparency, this is not time to do politics, this is time to focus on making… https://t.co/4IJ5fil79N pic.twitter.com/nrXb82DuzV
— ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2023 - 3 Jun 2023 7:45 PM IST
AAP slams Centre over train accident in Odisha, alleges Prime Minister Modi's entire focus is on "PR exercise and showing off" and not passengers' safety
- 3 Jun 2023 7:38 PM IST
"This is a very sad incident...More than 250 people have died. If one train met with an accident then how come the other two trains were not stopped, there must be some error that needs to be investigated by an independent retired judge," says National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on the Balasore train mishap.
Srinagar, J&K: This is a very sad incident...More than 250 people have died. If one train met with an accident then how come the other two trains were not stopped, there must be some error that needs to be investigated by an independent retired judge: National Conference… pic.twitter.com/bzdlvytQ3j
— ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2023 - 3 Jun 2023 7:04 PM IST
Odisha train tragedy: Civil aviation ministry advises airlines not to levy penal charges for cancellation, rescheduling of air tickets
- 3 Jun 2023 7:03 PM IST
#WATCH | Odisha: Restoration work is underway at the site of #BalasoreTrainAccident as wreckage and mangled coaches of derailed trains are being moved away from the track.
— ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2023
Death toll in the incident stands at 288 with 747 people injured along with 56 grievously injured so far. pic.twitter.com/3tzdV5jWJk - 3 Jun 2023 7:00 PM IST
"So far, a total of 58 trains stand cancelled, 81 were diverted & 10 were terminated. Work is underway in full swing, & restoration will be done soon; first, we will complete the restoration of the downline," says Amitabh Sharma, Spokesperson, Ministry of Railways on the Balasore train mishap.
- 3 Jun 2023 6:44 PM IST
"#OdishaTrainCrash What a tragedy…..Devastating news 🤲🏼Prayers to the families and people of Odisha! @Naveen_Odisha. Prayers to all the families who got impacted because of this. 🤲🏻 ❤️🩹," Oscar-award-winning composer AR Rahman tweeted.
