Following the horrific train crash in Odisha's Balasore, involving the 12864 Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, Railway officials on Saturday confirmed that no passengers from the reserved coaches died or got injured in the devastating three-train collision. However, a few passengers in the General Seating (GS) coach received some injuries, reported news agency PTI. The overturned GS and SLRD (Brake Van) coaches are still being restored and rescue works are on, the officials further said.
According to the officials of the South Western Railways (SWR), 994 reserved and around 300 unreserved passengers are estimated to have boarded the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express from Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVB) in the city, reported PTI.
SWR officials also said that 2 GS coaches and Brake Van of the express train derailed during the crash and identifying the passengers will take some time as they were unreserved coaches. However, they said that details including contact number of passengers travelling in reserved coaches are available in the database.
According to the latest development, the unaffected portion of the train consisting 19 coaches left Balasore at 05.08 am and continued its onward journey towards Howrah, the express train's destination, with speed restriction of 10 kmph, reported PTI, citing railway officials.
"The unaffected portion of Tr.No.12864 (engine plus 20 coaches) on being given fit to run with speed restriction of 10 kmph at 00.58 hrs. and the rake arrived at Balasore at 03.42 hrs," the update said.
At least 238 people have been killed and more than 900 injured in the horrific three-train collision that took place in Odisha's Balasore, around 7 pm on Friday, May 2.
A goods train was also involved in the accident as some of the coaches of the Coromandel Express, which was heading to Chennai, hit its wagons after getting derailed.
The train crash is the fourth deadliest in the country according to available records, reported news agency PTI.