Odisha: Coromandel Express collides with goods train, more than 100 killed

Bhubaneswar: A major train accident has happened in Odisha. Several coaches of the Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express train derailed near Bahanaga railway station in the state’s Balasore district on Friday evening. Many passengers are trapped, and are feared dead. According to initial reports, at least four coaches of the express train derailed after hitting a goods train parked at Bahnaga station. Talking about the dead, according to the information, more than 100 have gone, the figure may increase further.

Hon’ble CM Sri Naveen Patnaik today expressed deep concern over Disaster #Train accident near Balasore and said that saving lives of injured passengers is now top priority of the government. CM visited the SRC Office in the evening and took stock of the situation. pic.twitter.com/qTcMOCYFhr

— I & PR Department, Odisha (@IPR_Odisha) June 2, 2023

Odisha’s Special Relief Commissioner Satyavrat Sahoo has directed the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) team in Balasore to immediately rush to the spot for search and rescue operations.On getting the information, Balasore Collector and SP reached the spot. Railway officials are now on the spot. Around 20 ambulances have been rushed to the accident site to take the passengers to local hospitals, officials said. Two fire brigade teams from Bhadrak have been rushed to the spot.An emergency helpline number 6782-262-286 has been issued in Balasore. The Odisha government has directed the Director General of Fire Services to rush to the spot and supervise the rescue operation.

Doctors have been sent from Balasore Medical College. Officials said that till now there are 10 injured passengers in Balasore Medical College. But according to the eyewitnesses, more than 800 are being injured. All medical colleges and all hospitals in and around Balasore have been put on alert. SCB Medical College, Cuttack has also been kept ready.