coromandel express accident: 237 people killed, more than 1000 injured due to collision of 3 trains in Balasore
A painful train accident took place on Friday evening in Balasore district of Odisha. According to Railways, several coaches of the Howrah-bound 12864 Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express derailed at Bahanga Bazar and fell onto another track. “These derailed coaches collided with the 12841 Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express and its coaches also overturned.” It is learned that the coaches of the Coromandel Express collided with a goods train after derailing, causing the goods train to overturn. Got involved in an accident.
237 people have died in the railway accident while more than 900 people have been injured. The accident took place around 7.20 pm at Bahanga Bazar station when the Coromandel Express was on its way to Chennai Central from Shalimar station near Kolkata. The local people who reached the spot started evacuating the passengers. Later NDRF, State Government and Air Force started rescue and relief operations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the train accident in Odisha’s Balasore district. PM Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of those killed in the train accident and Rs 50,000 to the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF). At the same time, after the accident, the Railway Ministry has announced compensation. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased, Rs 2 lakh to the seriously injured and Rs 50,000 to those with minor injuries.
After the horrific train accident, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced one day state mourning today. At the same time, the inauguration ceremony of Goa-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express was cancelled. Several trains were canceled while some were diverted in the affected section of the train derailment in Odisha’s Balasore district.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s statement has come on the Odisha train accident. He said it was sad to know that the Shalimar-Coromandel Express carrying passengers from West Bengal collided with a goods train near Balasore this evening and some of our (Bengal) outgoing passengers were seriously injured. Coordinating with Government of Odisha and South Eastern Railway for the betterment. Our emergency control room has been activated immediately with numbers 033- 22143526/22535185. All efforts have been initiated for rescue, assistance.
RailMadad has issued a temporary helpline number 044- 2535 4771 for inquiries regarding the derailment of Coromandel Express. Odisha Chief Minister directed Minister of State Pramila Mallick and Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) to immediately reach the accident site. The minister and SRC are on their way to the spot. Officials in Bhubaneswar said that 115 ambulances, 50 buses, 45 mobile health units along with 1200 personnel have been deployed for relief and rescue operations. More than two thousand people gathered outside Balasore Medical College to help the injured. A large number of people are also donating blood for the injured. Doctors said that more than 30 injured have undergone surgery in the Medical College.
