Several passengers are feared dead and over 300 are estimated injured in a train accident in Odisha. According to the South Eastern Railway, the accident involved two trains– 12481 Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express and 12864 Yashwantpur-Howrah Superfast Express.
The train accident in Odisha took place at around 7.08pm at Panapana, near the Bahanaga Bazar railway station in the Balasore-Bhadrak section of the Kharagpur Division of South Eastern Railway, approximately 140km from the divisional headquarters.
A goods train was also involved in the accident according to Odisha’s Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena. However, the rail authorities have not confirmed this report.
According to the South Eastern Railway, the Yashwantpur-Howrah Superfast Express was passing through the down line near Bahanaga Bazar railway station, when two of its coaches derailed.
The Coromandel Express running on the up line collided with the derailed coaches and then capsized. Over five coaches, carrying 400 passengers are derailed and have turned turtle on the tracks.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has dispatched a team of 22 members to the site of the train accident in Odisha from Balasore. Another team of 32 will be reaching the spot soon.
Although the Indian Railways has not divulged the exact number of casualties, as the rescue operations are underway, it’s feared that many passengers are trapped in the five mangled coaches.
Apart from the NDRF, the Odisha government has sent Odisha Fire Services (OFS) Director General Sudhanshu Sarangi to oversee the rescue operations. Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Satyabrata Sahu has also rushed to the spot of the train accident in Odisha with a team.
The NDRF, OFS, personnel from Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the local people have joined hands in the rescue operations.
The passengers injured in the train accident in Odisha are admitted to the Balasore Medical College, community health centres in Soro and Gopalpur and a primary health centre in Khantapada.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who recently inaugurated railway projects in Odisha and dedicated the state’s first Vande Bharat Express, has expressed his grief over the train accident in Odisha.
In a tweet, Modi said, “Distressed by the train accident in Odisha. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. Spoke to Railway Minister @AshwiniVaishnaw and took stock of the situation. Rescue ops are underway at the site of the mishap and all possible assistance is being given to those affected.”
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has expressed his grief over the incident. In a tweet, Vaishnaw said, “Rushing to the site in Odisha. My prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured and condolences to the bereaved families. Rescue teams mobilised from Bhubaneswar and Kolkata. NDRF, State govt. teams and Airforce also mobilised. Will take all hands required for the rescue ops.”
Vaishnaw also announced an ex-gratia compensation to the victims of the train accident. Rs 1m will be paid to the kin of those who died in the train accident in Odisha, Rs 200,000 towards grievous injuries and Rs 50,000 for minor injuries.
The South Eastern Railway has opened several help desks to assist the family and friends of the victims of the train accident in Odisha.
The following helplines are open:
Bhadrak helpline number: 7894099570 / 9337116973
Howrah: 033-2638 2217
Kharagpur: 89720 73925 / 93323 92339
Balasore: 82495 91559 / 79784 18322
Shalimar: 99033 70746
Santragachi: 81092 89460 / 83406 49469
Jajpur-Keonjhar Road: 96769 74398
Cuttack: 84558 89917
Bhubaneswar: 0674-253 4027
Khurda Road: 63701 08046 / 0674-249 2245
Several trains of the South Eastern Railway have been cancelled due to the train accident in Odisha.
Many trains have been diverted through Tatanagar after the collision in Bahanaga Bazar.
