Odisha triple train accident: The rescue operation in the tragic rail accident in Odisha's Balasore has been completed with 288 people dead and around 900 passengers injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited the accident spot, said those found guilty in the matter will be punished stringently. "It's a painful incident. Govt will leave no stone unturned for the treatment of those injured. It's a serious incident, instructions issued for probe from every angle. Those found guilty will be punished stringently. Railway is working towards track restoration. I met the injured victims," he said.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday visited the accident spot in Balasore where three trains collided resulting in the deaths. 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.
PM Narendra Modi Visits Accident Site As Rescue Work Ends — Top 10 Updates
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting to review the situation in relation to the rail accident and reached Odisha's Balasore to take stock of the situation. He also visited the hospital in Cuttack and met the injured victims.
- The number of casualties in Friday's railway accident has increased to 288, said the Indian Railways in a statement released a 2 pm on Saturday. Earlier, Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena said that 238 people had died in the accident and around 900 passengers were injured.
- Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the rescue operation has been completed and restoration work has begun. "We will thoroughly investigate this incident and will ensure such incidents don't happen in the future," he added.
- 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 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 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.
- National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Director-General Atul Karwal said nine teams of the force were deployed. "It's a very tragic incident, it's a huge loss of lives...Nine teams of NDRF - more than 300 rescuers - are working in coordination with SDRF & other agencies. This is the third such major incident in our history. The force with which the three trains collided with each other resulted in several coaches getting crushed & being in a mangled condition there. It is a challenge to cut through them & get inside to ensure that the live victims are not affected," he said.
- 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.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee arrived in Odisha's Balasore to take stock of the situation and meet the injured there. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Ministers Udhayanidhi Stalin, Siva Shankar, and Anbil Mahesh are flying to Odisha for relief work.
- Meanwhile, a lot of people are coming to Cuttack Hospital voluntarily to donate blood. "I am getting requests from many places so it is a good sign. Since the accident till now, the local people have been providing a lot of assistance to our rescue professionals," Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena said, as per ANI.
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.
Odisha and Tamil Nadu are observing a one-day state mourning today to grieve the lives lost in this tragic accident.