Odisha Train Accident: Over 100 Bodies Piled Up, People Struggling To Find Family Members — Ground Report

Odisha triple train accident: Even as the rescue operation is declared completed and almost all coaches have been checked, more bodies could be recovered from the train accident spot in Balasore.

Balasore: Rescue operation at the site where Coromandel Express, Bengaluru-Howrah Express, and a goods train derailed, in Balasore district, Saturday, June 3, 2023. ( Image Source :PTI )

As the nation mourns the deaths caused by the Odisha triple train accident, the ground visuals from the spot in Balasore and the hospitals where the injured have been taken continue to ring home the magnitude of the tragedy. Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the rescue operation has been completed and restoration work has begun. So far, 261 people have been reported dead, and around 900 passengers injured. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, his Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee, and Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw visited the accident spot in Balasore where three trains collided resulting in the deaths. 

As per information on the ground, even as the rescue operation is declared completed and almost all coaches have been checked, more bodies could be recovered from the coaches. In an unofficial count, over 100 dead bodies could be seen on the ground shrouded in white covers with people coming in to identify their family members.

People on the ground are unable to recover from the shock of losing their loved ones in such an unexpected manner as they were unable to put their ordeal into words. They were too overwhelmed to say anything.

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Railways Spokesperson Amitabh Sharma mentioned that more than 100 people have claimed ex gratia payments. "Counters for the same have been set up at three places-Balasore, Soro and Bahanaga Bazar... As of now 48 trains cancelled, 39 diverted and 10 short-terminated," he told news agency ANI.

After visiting the accident site and Cuttack Hospital, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik said Railway safety should always be given the first preference. "Extremely tragic train accident... I have to thank the local teams, local people, and others who have worked overnight to save people from the wreckage... Railway safety should always be given the first preference... The people have been taken to hospitals in Balasore and Cuttack so that they recover as fast as possible," ANI quoted him as saying.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also took stock of the situation and said that the government's focus is on rescue and relief operations.

"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 ANI.

"A detailed high-level inquiry will be conducted and the rail safety commissioner will also do an independent inquiry," he added.

17 coaches were derailed and are severely damaged. The sequence of events will be known after inquiry, Narendra Singh Bundela, Inspector-General Operation, NDRF, told ANI.