Railway Minister declares ex-gratia for Odisha train accident victims

Bhubaneswar: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has declared ex-gratia compensation for the victims of a major train accident in Balasore district of Odisha today.

The Indian Railway will pay Rs 10 lakh as ex-gratia in case of death while the passengers, who have sustained grievous injuries, will get Rs 2 lakh each.

The railway will provide Rs 50,000 as compensation to the people who have sustained minor injuries in the train mishap.

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.