Coromandel Express Tragedy: 70 Dead, More Feared Trapped As Rescue Ops Continue Overnight — Top Points

At least 10 to 12 coaches of the high-speed train derailed and encroached on to the opposite track, which led to the derailment of 3-4 coaches of train travelling from Yeshwanthpur to Howrah

At least 70 people have been reported dead while over 350 have been injured after Shalimar-Chennai Coronamndel Express derailed near the Bahanaga Station in Odisha's Balasore on Friday night. As per initial reports, the high-speed train was in motion along the primary track. Following the accident, it collided with a stationary freight train positioned on the side track. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex gratia of Rupees 2 lakh to the kin of deceased and Rupees 50,000 to the injured from the PM National Relief Fund. 

At least 10 to 12 coaches of the high-speed train derailed and encroached on to the opposite track, which led to the derailment of 3-4 coaches of train travelling from Yeshwanthpur to Howrah, said Railway spokersperson Amitabh Sharma.  

Here are other top developments: 

• Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw rushed to the state and announced an ex gratia of Rupees 10 lakh to the kin of deceased, Rupees 2 lakh to greviously inujured and Rs 50,000 to people with minor injuries.  


• Odisha Chief Minister, while talking to reporters, said that he would visit the spot on Saturday and take stock of the situation.


• Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya expressed his grief and instructed All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubhaneshwar to provide all possible help to the people injured in the accident  with arrangements for emergency, ICU and OT beds, all doctors, nurses and staff. 


• Union Education Minister and BJP Rajya Sabha MP from Madhya Pradehsh, Dharmendra Pradhan, who belongs to Odisha, on Friday night left for Balasore.


• Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed their grief over the incident. 


• Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said her government sent a team to the accident site in Odisha to aid in rescue and relief efforts was coordinating with Odisha government and South Eastern Railways "for our people's sake". She also said that she is personally monitoring the situation with Chief Secretary and other senior officers.


• In the wake of the incident, the inauguration of Goa-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express scheduled to be done by PM Modi was cancelled. 


• Teams of National Disaster Response Force were pressed to the spot for search and rescue operations.