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 5:13 PM IST
"A crane has arrived, we will pull up (coaches) one by one, but we don't expect any survivors under them. We are disheartened, we had never seen so many bodies in our life," says Odisha's Director General, Fire Services, Sudhanshu Sarangi, on the Balasore train accident.
- 3 Jun 2023 5:06 PM IST
#WATCH | Odisha: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was briefed by Union Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and other officials about the #BalasoreTrainAccident at the site of the incident. pic.twitter.com/FeZMqwwhOW
— ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2023 - 3 Jun 2023 5:05 PM IST
After taking stock of the situation at the Balasore train crash site, Modi leaves for a hospital to meet the victims of the tragedy.
- 3 Jun 2023 5:02 PM IST
"This is the biggest accident in history. I have spoken to the Chief Minister of Odisha. The government of Chhattisgarh is ready to provide all possible help to them", says Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel on Balasore train accident.
#WATCH | Raipur: This is the biggest accident in history. I have spoken to the Chief Minister of Odisha. The government of Chhattisgarh is ready to provide all possible help to them: Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel on #BalasoreTrainAccident pic.twitter.com/Sc25t3oumJ
— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) June 3, 2023 - 3 Jun 2023 4:31 PM IST
Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar condoles loss of lives in Odisha triple train tragedy.
VIDEO | Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar condoles loss of lives in Odisha triple train tragedy. pic.twitter.com/lGG1dwiU9g
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 3, 2023 - 3 Jun 2023 4:27 PM IST
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee meets the injured people at a hospital in Soro, Balasore.
VIDEO | West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee meets the injured people at a hospital in Soro, Balasore. #OdishaTrainAccident pic.twitter.com/5eCsqQo0uh
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 3, 2023 - 3 Jun 2023 4:21 PM IST
"The speed of the Coromandel Express was about 110-115 kmph, it was moving smoothly, but suddenly the accident occurred and within a span of 30-40 seconds we see so many people injured, dead and cries of help everywhere," one of the passengers, Anubhav Das, who was onboard Coromandel Express recalls the moment when the Odisha train tragedy occurred.
- 3 Jun 2023 4:19 PM IST
BJP MP Varun Gandhi expresses his grief over the Balasore train accident; urges MPs to donate a part of their one-month salary to the bereaved families to help them.
उड़ीसा की रेल दुर्घटना हृदय विदारक है!
— Varun Gandhi (@varungandhi80) June 3, 2023
जो परिवार इस हादसे से टूटे हैं हमें उनके साथ चट्टान की तरह खड़ा होना होगा।
मेरा सभी साथी सांसदों से निवेदन है कि हम सभी अपनी तनख्वाह का एक हिस्सा शोक संतप्त परिजनों के नाम कर उनकी मदद के लिए आगे आयें।
पहले उन्हें सहारा मिले, फिर न्याय। 
3 Jun 2023 4:02 PM ISTModi arrives at the site of Balasore train tradegy
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at the site of the Balasore train accident to take stock of the situation. Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Dharmendra Pradhan also inspect the site with him.
- 3 Jun 2023 3:59 PM IST
The news of the terrible train accident is heart-rending. Such a terrible accident has never happened before. There is no information so far on the death of any Kannadiga. The railway ministry should say who made this mistake. We have sent our minister Santosh Lad to the accident spot. He will get the information and give further details. May the departed souls rest in peace: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah
