One person has died and eight others have been injured after the Bengaluru-Kamakhya AC Express derailed in Odisha's Cuttack district on Sunday, a senior official said.
Cuttack's District Collector Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde said, "One person has died in the incident...8 people injured needed a referral and have been shifted...An enquiry is being done of the incident."
Eleven coaches of the SMVT Bengaluru-Kamakhya AC Express derailed at Nirgundi near Manguli at 11.54 am. Shinde said that some passengers also fell ill after the accident because of the heatwave conditions prevailing in the area.
"They were treated at a temporary health camp set up at the accident site. Some people who received minor injuries in the accident were also given first aid, declared fit to travel. Around 15 people were given first aid at the health camp," he said.
"Shinde said the seven people, whose injuries were serious, were admitted to the state-run SCB Medical College and Hospital (SCB MCH) in Cuttack. All of them are stable," he said.
Odisha Fire Service Director-General Sudhansu Sarangi had earlier said that seven injured people have been rescued and taken to a nearby hospital.
Visuals shared from the site of the incident showed several compartments of the train derailed even as rescue workers and police personnel were seen on the spot.
The Indian Railways have also diverted the following trains in view of the accident:
- 12822 Dhauli Express - Puri to Kolkata
- 12875 NEELACHAL SF EX
- 22606 Purulia Express
The East Coast Railway has announced a special train to carry stranded passengers to Kamakhya via Cuttack. The train has departed from Bhubaneswar at 2:30 pm.
"Train number 12551, Bengaluru-Kamakhya Express, has derailed. It is difficult to determine the exact cause at this moment, and we can only confirm after an inquiry. For now, we have arranged a special rake, and a new train has already departed from Bhubaneswar. Some passengers have reached Cuttack station, where they will board the new train to continue their journey to their respective destinations. As of now, I do not have exact details regarding injuries or other damages," HS Bajwa, DRM Khurda, said.
Helpline Numbers Issued
The Railways have issued helpline numbers following the train derailment to assist passengers and their families. The helpline numbers include:
- Bhubaneswar: 8455885999
- Cuttack: 8991124238
The Railways have also issued helpdesk numbers for the following areas:
- Bhubaneswar - 8114382371
- Bhadrak - 9437443469
- Cuttack - 7205149591
- Palasa - 9237105480
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in a post on X said, "I am aware of the incident involving 12551 Kamakhya Express in Odisha. CMO Assam is in touch with the Odisha Government and Railways. We will reach out to each and every person who is affected."
