Bhubaneswar: At least 50 passengers died and over 350 others sustained injuries in a major mishap involving Coromandel Express (12841) and Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express (12864) at Panapana near Bahanaga Station in Balasore district of Odisha today.

According to sources, as many as 10 to 12 coaches of Shalimar Chennai Coromandel Express derailed near Bahanaga station and fell on the opposite track at around 7 pm.

Yeswantpur-Howrah Superfast Express, which was passing on the route, collided with the derailed coaches of Coromandel Express. At least four coaches of the Yeswantpur-Howrah Express suffered derailment due to the collision, said railway spokesperson Amitabh Sharma.

“At least 50 passengers died in the mishap and around 350 others sustained injuries in the mishap. The injured passengers are being shifted to various hospitals in Balasore and Cuttack,” said a source in Indian Railways.

An emergency control room (Phone no. (06782) 262286) has been opened at Balasore. The Railway authorities, meanwhile, issued helpline numbers: 033-26382217 (Howrah); 8972073925, 9332392339 (Kharagpur); 8249591559, 7978418322 (Balasore) and 9903370746 (Shalimar) for the people.