Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Visits Balasore Train Accident Site As 238 Dead, Nearly 900 Injured
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw visited the Balasore train accident site to take stock of the situation after three trains collided there resulting in the death of 238 people.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday visited the accident spot in Balasore where three trains collided resulting in the death of 238 people and more than 900 injured. He arrived after Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reached the accident site and said that a detailed high-level inquiry will be conducted and the rail safety commissioner will also do an independent inquiry. Vaishnaw also took stock of the situation and said that the government's focus is on rescue and relief operations.
In a video shared by news agency ANI, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik and Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw were seen interacting with officials on the ground overseeing the rescue operations.
#WATCH | Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik takes stock of the situation at the accident site in Balasore #BalasoreTrainAccident pic.twitter.com/PajWdqzkP4
— ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2023
The Odisha Chief Minister also reached Balasore district hospital to meet the injured passengers.
"I thank the local people and local teams who have worked overnight to save people from the wreckage. The injured have been taken to hospitals here in Balasore and in Cuttack," CM Naveen Patnaik said, as per news agency PTI.
VIDEO | "I thank the local people and local teams who have worked overnight to save people from the wreckage. The injured have been taken to hospitals here in Balasore and in Cuttack," says Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik. pic.twitter.com/DBdFi06SeN
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 3, 2023
"It's a big tragic accident. Railway, NDRF, SDRF, and State govt are conducting the rescue operation. Best possible healthcare facilities will be provided. Compensation was announced yesterday. A high-level committee has been formed to inquire about it," the Railways Minister said interacting with the media earlier, as per news agency ANI.
"Our focus is on rescue and relief operations. Restoration will begin after clearance from district administration. A detailed high-level inquiry will be conducted and the rail safety commissioner will also do an independent inquiry," he added.
#WATCH | Our focus is on rescue and relief operations. Restoration will begin after clearance from district administration. A detailed high-level inquiry will be conducted and the rail safety commissioner will also do an independent inquiry: Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw… pic.twitter.com/yfCecv0FxB
— ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2023
He thanked the NDRF officials who are actively engaged in the search and rescue operation.
Odisha Train Accident: Death Toll At 238, 900 Injured
There are 238 casualties and around 650 injured passengers have been taken to the Hospitals of Gopalpur, Khantapara, Balasore, Bhadrak, and Sor, the South Eastern Railway stated.
Earlier, Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep said that around 900 passengers have been injured in the incident. "So far around 900 passengers have been injured and are being treated in various hospitals in Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Jajpur, and Cuttack districts. So far, 233 dead bodies have been recovered. The search and rescue operation is going on. One bogie which is severely damaged is left; NDRF, ODRAF, and Fire Service are still working to cut the bogie and try to recover the living or the dead..," he said.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan left for Odisha's Balasore while cutting short his visit to Kolkata. He is expected to reach the spot in a few hours, reported ANI.
Earlier in the day, Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar visited the injured in the Coromondel Express tragedy at Fakir Mohan Medical College and Hospital in Balasore. TMC MP Dola Sen also visited the spot and said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee might come to visit the people on Sunday. She added that the CM has sent her officials, doctors, and trauma ambulance from Kharagpur for now.
ALSO READ | High-Level Committee To Probe Balasore Train Accident: Railways Minister Takes Stock Of Rescue Ops
Coromondel Express Tragedy
Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express was on its way to Howrah when several coaches derailed and fell on the adjacent tracks. Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express was on its way to Chennai when it collided with the derailed coaches of the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express. The derailed coaches of the Coromandel Express then hit the wagons of a goods train.
As per the information received from Kharagpur Divisional Railway Manager, the Shalimar-Howrah Coromandel Express was derailed at Bahanaga station at around 6:51 pm, while the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast train derailed at the same spot at 6:55 pm.
Odisha and Tamil Nadu are observing a one-day state mourning today to grieve the lives lost in this tragic accident.
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