Odisha: On Friday evening around 200 people died and 900 were injured when a passenger train hit the derailed coaches of another train in Balasore, Odisha. The collision occured between the Coromandel Express, Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express and a goods train. According to the last report, death toll stands at 237 while 900 people were injured in the accident.

Rescue operations are on

Rescue operations are on and people are taken to the hospital in the nearby districts. Odisha Chief Secretory said, “Three NDRF units, 4 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force units, over 15 fire rescue teams, 30 doctors, 200 police personnel and 60 ambulances have been mobilised to the site. 7 NDRF, 5 ODRAF (Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force) & 24 Fire Service Units, local police, and volunteers are working tirelessly in search and rescue.

On Board passenger’s statement

There was a deafening sound. And then our train moved backwards and stopped with a massive jerk. When I looked out, I saw four bogies of our train had derailed. There were bodies trapped under the coaches. It was dark and cries could be heard,” said Vidhan Jena, a passenger on board the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express that collided with the Coromandel Express in Balasore on Friday evening. “I was shocked to see bodies lying here and there. It was a terrible sight,” said Jena, who was travelling to Balasore from Bhubaneswar. Another witness said there was a thunderous sound. “We rushed to the spot and saw bodies, with severed limbs, lying everywhere. It was a heart-rending sight.”

Ex Gratia announced by PM Modi

After the incident took place in Odisha, 49 trains were cancelled and 38 trains were diverted to a different route by the Indian Railways on Saturday. Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnav announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the people who died, Rs 2 lakh to those who were injured and ₹ 50,000 for those who sustained minor injuries in the accident. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief and announced a compensation of ₹ 2 lakh for the family of the dead and ₹ 50,000 for the injured from the PM’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF). Embassy of Italy has also expressed distress over the accident and tweeted, “Heartfelt and deepest condolences to the people of India and the families of the victims of the train accident in Odisha.”

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