Odisha Train Mishap: Over 250 People Dead So Far

Biggest Train Accident In Decades – Three Train Crash In Odisha

In a tragic accident yesterday night, three trains crashed in Odisha yesterday night. While Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has ordered a high-level investigation into this shocking incident that took the lives of at least 250 people and injured over 1000 people in the mishap, a political blame game has already started.

#BalasoreTrainAccident | As per the information received till now, there are 261 casualties. Injured passengers have been taken to the Hospitals of Gopalpur, Khantapara, Balasore, Bhadrak and Soro: South Eastern Railway#OdishaTrainAccident pic.twitter.com/s3ax03jr3n

— ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2023

Opposition leaders are calling ‘signaling failure’ the cause of the accident involving the Coromandel Express, Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, and a goods train.

Odisha Train Mishap: Over 250 People Dead So Far

Initial Reports On Odisha Train Mishap

The root cause of this accident is yet to be identified. Early reports said that at around 6:55 pm Bengaluru-Howrah train derailed on the down line and at 7 pm Coromandel derailed on the up line. First, the derailed Coromandel coaches collided with Bengaluru-Howrah and then with a goods train.

Rescue Actions Taken So Far

• Rescue units working on site since yesterday evening –
7 NDRF units, 5 ODRAF units, and around 200 ambulances were deployed for rescue operations.
• Relief trains dispatched to the site –
Multiple relief trains were rushed to the accident site according to South Eastern Railway officials.
• Injured are being taken to nearby hospitals
Over 900 passengers who got injured in this accident have been taken to various hospitals in Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Jaipur, and Cuttack districts.
• Other trains’ schedules either canceled or diverted
Due to train accident in Balasore, 49 trains were cancelled, 38 trains’ routes diverted and another 20 short-terminated
• Indian Army deployed on site
From the eastern command, Army personnel have been deployed to provide assistance in the evacuation and treatment of injured citizens. Army’s medical and engineering team will be reaching the place of the incident with ambulances and support services.
• IAF deploys Mi-17 helicopters for evacuation
Mi-17 helicopters have been deployed by Indian Air Force to evacuate the deceased and injured in Odisha triple train accident.
• Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik visited the site

Odisha CM visited the site this morning to review the rescue operations.

Condolence messages coming from national and international leaders

Senior National leaders have expressed their grief including President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, West Bengal CM Mamta Banerjee, and many more.

Russian ambassador, Foreign Ministers of Australia, Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal also expressed their grief and offered condolences.

Ann ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of the deceased, Rs 2 lakh to the severely injured, and Rs 50,000 for those with minor injuries, announced by the Railway Minister. In the wake of this horrific train derailment, Odisha government has also declared a day of mourning today.