New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi A meeting was called on Saturday to review the situation. Odisha Train accident, government sources said. Accident between three trains in Odisha Balasore At least 238 people have died in the district so far.
Officials in Bhubaneswar said a massive rescue operation was underway at the accident site. Around 200 ambulances, 50 buses, and 45 mobile health units as well as 1,200 personnel were deployed to provide assistance. Bodies were being taken to hospitals using various modes of transport including tractors.
The train accident, ranking as the fourth deadliest in India based on available records, occurred near Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore district. The site is located about 250 km south of Kolkata and 170 km north of Bhubaneswar. The incident took place around 7 pm on Friday, following which the Ministry of Railways launched a comprehensive probe.
While the exact cause of the accident is unclear, early sources suggest that a possible signaling failure may have played a role.
Several coaches of the Howrah-bound 12864 Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express derailed and hit the adjacent tracks, a railway official said. As a result, 12841 Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express traveling in the opposite direction was also affected, resulting in overturning of some of its coaches.
Apart from these two passenger trains, a goods train was also involved in the accident. The coaches of the Chennai-bound Coromandel Express collided with the coaches of the goods train after derailing.
Railway spokesperson Amitabh Sharma said that the Coromandel Express derailed first. Subsequently, around 10-12 of its coaches fell on the track where the Bengaluru-Howrah Express was traveling, derailing it as well.
The conflicting accounts of the accident have yet to be resolved at this time.
Expressing condolences to those who lost their lives in one of India’s worst train accidents, the opposition also criticized the government’s handling of the situation.
(with inputs from agencies)
Officials in Bhubaneswar said a massive rescue operation was underway at the accident site. Around 200 ambulances, 50 buses, and 45 mobile health units as well as 1,200 personnel were deployed to provide assistance. Bodies were being taken to hospitals using various modes of transport including tractors.
The train accident, ranking as the fourth deadliest in India based on available records, occurred near Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore district. The site is located about 250 km south of Kolkata and 170 km north of Bhubaneswar. The incident took place around 7 pm on Friday, following which the Ministry of Railways launched a comprehensive probe.
While the exact cause of the accident is unclear, early sources suggest that a possible signaling failure may have played a role.
Several coaches of the Howrah-bound 12864 Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express derailed and hit the adjacent tracks, a railway official said. As a result, 12841 Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express traveling in the opposite direction was also affected, resulting in overturning of some of its coaches.
Apart from these two passenger trains, a goods train was also involved in the accident. The coaches of the Chennai-bound Coromandel Express collided with the coaches of the goods train after derailing.
Railway spokesperson Amitabh Sharma said that the Coromandel Express derailed first. Subsequently, around 10-12 of its coaches fell on the track where the Bengaluru-Howrah Express was traveling, derailing it as well.
The conflicting accounts of the accident have yet to be resolved at this time.
Expressing condolences to those who lost their lives in one of India’s worst train accidents, the opposition also criticized the government’s handling of the situation.
(with inputs from agencies)