Odisha train accident toll goes up; rescue operation completes

Balasore: The toll in tragic train accident in Balasore district further increased making it the most disastrous railway accident in Odisha.

The number of casualties has increased to 261. Around 1000 passengers were injured in the mishap. The rescue operation completed as derailment site and restoration work commenced, informed the South Eastern Railway.

All injured and trapped passengers have been rescued. The injured passengers have been shifted to hospitals at Soro, Balasore, Bhadrak and Cuttack for treatment. The Government is providing free treatment at both government and private hospitals, the SER said in a bulletin.

As per the bulletin, 9 NDRF Teams, 5 ODRAF Units and 24 Fire Services & Emergency Units were engaged in rescue operation. More than 100 Medical Teams with paramedical staff along with medicines were mobilized to the accident site for medical treatment and more than 200 Ambulances engaged in shifting to hospitals.

Earlier in the day, the number of deaths was 238. Around 900 passengers were seriously injured in the train mishap.

The mishap occurred at 7 pm on Friday at Bahanaga Bazar Station where Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express collided with two derailed coaches of Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express and hit wagons of a goods train on another track.

On receiving information, senior Railway officials rushed to the spot to rescue passengers trapped inside the trains.

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reached the site to review the situation in the morning. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also paid a visit to the accident site to condole bereaved families of persons died in the mishap.

Many political leaders visited the accident site to review the situation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also on the way to reach the spot and meet the victims in hospital in Cuttack.

 

 

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