Coromandel Express derailed: At least 50 people were killed and over 300 injured in a major rail accident in Odisha’s Balasore on Friday involving the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Coromandel Express and a goods train on three different tracks.
Here is a graphic explainer of the crash-
Several coaches of the Howrah-bound 12864 Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express derailed at Bahnagabazar and fell on the up line, a railway official said.
“These derailed coaches collided with 12841 Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express and its coaches also overturned,” he said. The official said a goods train was also involved in the accident as coaches of the Coromandel Express collided with its coaches after the derailment.
The accident took place around 7 pm, about 255 km from Howrah, he said. So far 47 people have been admitted to the Balasore Medical College and Hospital, Odisha’s Special Relief Commissioner Satyavrat Sahoo said.
A PTI reporter at the spot said several people were trapped under the derailed coaches and locals were helping emergency service personnel to rescue them, but darkness was hampering the operation.
Here is the list of canceled trains-
Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena said 132 injured were admitted to Soro, Gopalpur and Khantapada health centres, while 47 were admitted to Balasore Medical College and Hospital.
Officials said that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has directed Special Relief Secretary Satyabrata Sahu and Revenue Minister Pramila Malik to go to the accident site.
A South Eastern Railway official said accident relief trains have been dispatched to the spot.
Four units of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), three units of NDRF and 60 ambulances are working to rescue the injured, officials said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was distressed by the accident, and spoke to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav to take stock of the situation.
“Distressed by the train accident in Odisha. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. Wishing speedy recovery to the injured. Spoke to Railway Minister @AshwiniVaishnav & took stock of the situation.”
Rescue operations are underway at the accident site and all possible assistance is being provided to the affected people.”
West Bengal Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi said that a team led by state minister Manas Bhunia and MP Dola Sen is being sent to the spot. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she was personally monitoring the situation along with the Chief Secretary and other officials.
“We are coordinating with Odisha government and South Eastern Railway for the well being of our people. Our emergency control room has been activated immediately with numbers 033- 22143526/22535185.
All out efforts have been initiated for rescue, recovery, aid and assistance,” she tweeted.
DRM Kharagpur tweeted helpline numbers:
DRM Kharagpur said in a tweet, Train No. 12841 UP Coromandel Express and Train No. 12864 Down Bahnaga Bazar have derailed.
Helpdesk opened at SHM, HWH, KGP and BLS.
- HWH – 03326382217
- KGP – 8972073925, 9332392339
- BLS – 8249591559, 7978418322
- Shm – 9903370746
Helpline numbers set up by SCR:
- 1. SCR Headquarters, Rail Nilayam, Secunderabad: 040 – 27788516
- 2. Vijayawada Railway Station 0866 – 2576924
- 3. Rajahmundry Railway Station: 0883 – 2420541
- 4. Renigunta Railway Station: 9949198414.
5. Tirupati Railway Station: 7815915571
“Around 7 pm, 10-12 coaches of the Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express derailed near Balasore and fell on the opposite track. After some time, another train from Yesvantpur to Howrah collided with those derailed coaches resulting in derailment of 3-4 of its coaches.” coach,” said railway spokesperson Amitabh Sharma.
Other helpline numbers-
- Howrah Helpline Number: 033-26382217
- Kharagpur Helpline Number: 8972073925 & 9332392339
- Balasore Helpline Number: 8249591559 & 7978418322
- Shalimar Helpline Number: 9903370746
Bhadrak helpline number regarding derailment: 7894099570 & 9337116973
(with PTI inputs)