Baleshwar, June 03:The death toll in the train tragedy in Baleshwar district of Odisha has tragically climbed to 278, with hundreds of people sustaining injuries and being rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. Some individuals remain in critical condition, indicating the potential for further casualties.
Rescue teams, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRF), and the Indian Army, are tirelessly working to free those still trapped under the overturned train carriages. Over 1,200 personnel are actively involved in the ongoing relief efforts.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken note of the accident and held a meeting with senior railway officials to gather information about the situation. Reports suggest that the Prime Minister will visit the accident site in Balasore during his visit to Odisha today. He is also expected to meet with the injured at a hospital in Cuttack.
The incident occurred when the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, en route from Bengaluru to Howrah, derailed at Bahanaga Bazar near Baleshwar around 7 pm on Friday. The derailing bogies obstructed the adjacent track, leading to a collision with the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express. As a result, 15 coaches of the Coromandel Express overturned. The severity of the accident further escalated when a goods train on the neighboring track collided with the overturned Coromandel coaches. The Coromandel Express was traveling from Kolkata to Chennai at the time of the incident.
Contradictory accounts have emerged regarding the sequence of events. Local authorities state that the Coromandel Express derailed first, causing several of its bogies to fall onto the path of the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express. However, a railway official spokesperson, Amitabh Sharma, suggests that the Superfast Express bogies derailed onto the side track. The high-speed nature of the passenger trains involved has amplified the magnitude of the tragedy.
Rescue operations remain underway as authorities strive to save lives and provide aid to the affected passengers.
