NEW DELHI: In an unpleasant development, at least 50 people died and 350 people were injured as a three-way accident involving Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Coromandel Express and a goods train on three separate tracks occurred at Bahanagar in Odisha's Balasore district on Friday evening. The accident happened around 7.20 PM near Bahanaga Bazar station when the train was on its way to Chennai Central Station from the Shalimar Station near Kolkata, the officials said.


PM Modi Express Grief Over Train Derailment


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PM Narendra Modi took to Twitter to inform that he has taken stock of the situation in Odisha's Balasore where an express train collided with a freight train, leaving several dead and many injured. “Distressed by the train accident in Odisha. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. Spoke to Railway Minister @AshwiniVaishnaw and took stock of the situation. Rescue ops are underway at the site of the mishap and all possible assistance is being given to those affected,” the prime minister said in a tweet.


 



 


Union Rail Minister AshwiniVaishnaw, who is rushing to the accident site in Odisha, said, "My prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured and condolences to the bereaved families."


In view of the Odisha train mishap, the scheduled launch of the Vande Bharat Express train in Goa tomorrow has been cancelled.  



Relief And Rescue Teams; Ambulances Rushed To Spot  


Meanwhile, relief and rescue teams have been rushed to the spot. "An Express Train (12841 Shalimar-Coromandel Express) met with an accident near Bahanaga railway station in Balasore district. Teams have left for the spot for search and rescue operation. Collector, Balasore has also been directed to reach the spot to make all necessary arrangements and intimate the SRC if any additional help is required from the state level'' Special Relief Commissioner Office told ANI.


Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Odisha along with senior officers Hemant Sharma, Balwant Singh, Arvind Agarwal, and DG Fire Services have been rushed to the spot to supervise the rescue operations at Bahanaga. Medical colleges and all hospitals in and around Balasore have been put on alert, said Additional Chief Secretary & Development Commissioner, Odisha.


Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena informed that after the Coromandel express train accident, around 132 injured have been shifted to Soro CHC, Gopalpur CHC and the Khantapada PHC.


West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that a team led by a Minister is being rushed to the spot to aid victims. She said that the West Bengal government is coordinating with the Odisha government and South Eastern Railway.


NDRF, ODRAF Asked To Assist In Rescue Work


The Odisha government has directed the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action (ODRAF) Force to assist in rescue operations. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also directed Sahoo and Revenue Minister Pramila Malik to rush to the accident site, officials said.


Four units of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), three units of NDRF and 60 ambulances were working to rescue the injured, the officials said.


Helpline Numbers Issued


The Odisha government has issued helpline number 06782-262286. The railway helplines are 033-26382217 (Howrah), 8972073925 (Kharagpur), 8249591559 (Balasore) and 044- 25330952 (Chennai). The West Bengal government has also opened an emergency control room with numbers 033- 22143526/ 22535185.