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
6 Jun 2023 2:21 PM IST"CBI team has reached the accident site in Balasore. Inquiry is being done," said Rinkesh Roy, Divisional Railway Manager, East Coast Railway.
- 6 Jun 2023 2:20 PM IST
"This incident (Odisha train accident) is TMC's conspiracy. Why have they been panicking so much since yesterday when this incident is of another State? Why are they afraid of CBI investigation? These people with the help of the police tapped the railway officials' phones. How did these people know the conversation between two railway officials? How the conversation got leaked. This should come in the CBI investigation. If it doesn't come, I will go to court, says West Bengal LoP and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari.
- 6 Jun 2023 2:17 PM IST
"About 1,100 people were injured in the #BalasoreTrainAccident, out of which about 900 people were discharged after treatment. Around 200 people are being treated in various hospitals in the state. Out of 278 people who died in the accident, 101 bodies are yet to be identified, says DRM ECR Rinkesh Roy, Bhubaneswar.
- 6 Jun 2023 2:11 PM IST
"Of the total 193 bodies kept in Bhubaneswar, 80 bodies have been identified. 55 bodies have been handed over to the relatives. More than 200 calls have been received on BMC's helpline number 1929. The dead bodies are being identified and handed over to the relatives," says Vijay Amrit Kulange, Commissioner, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation.
- 6 Jun 2023 2:05 PM IST
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav return to Delhi after rescue operations and restoration of the railway line at the Balasore train accident site.
- 5 Jun 2023 7:01 PM IST
Yesterday night the affected area was restored, and operations are normalising. Today it was our focus to reach out to the families of the passengers of the Odisha train tragedy across the nation. I appeal to people nationwide to reach out to us at our toll-free numbers so that further process continues: Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
- 5 Jun 2023 6:28 PM IST
"It took the NSG more than 10 hours to reach Mumbai in response to the dastardly 26/11 terrorist attack. First, our PM visited Balasore train accident site, 3 Union Ministers were there too. Within 51 hrs of accident, railway lines were restored: Union minister HS Puri on Congress demanding Railways minister's resignation.
- 5 Jun 2023 5:22 PM IST
Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee announces State government jobs for next of kin of those killed in Balasore triple train crash.
- 5 Jun 2023 5:16 PM IST
"Till normalcy returns in the train movement from Bhubaneswar, Puri & Cuttack railway stations for the stranded passengers, free bus services will be available to Kolkata," says Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena.
