Chinese President Xi Jinping, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto, and Afghanistan's Taliban government on Saturday sent a message of condolence over the loss of life in Odisha triple train crash. 288 people have been reported dead with over 900 injured after Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express derailed near Bahanaga railway station in Odisha’s Balasore district, colliding with another passenger train on Friday night.
The Chinese Embassy in India issued a statement saying: "Chinese President Xi Jinping sent messages of condolence respectively to Indian President Droupadi Murmu and PM Narendra Modi over the heavy casualties caused by the train accident in Odisha. Chinese Premier Li Qiang also sent condolence message to PM Narendra Modi."
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed his grief and offered condolences to the families of the deceased in the mishap. Taking to Twitter, the PM wrote, "Deeply saddened by the loss of hundreds of lives in a train accident in India. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in this tragedy. Prayers for speedy recovery of the injured."
The Taliban dispensation in Afghanistan also issued a statement on Saturday expressing its sorrow on the loss of life in the mishap.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is saddened by the train collision in eastern Odisha State of the Republic of India that has left hundreds dead and injured. MOFA sympathies with the bereaved families of the victims and the injured,” it said.
Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also reacted to the incident. “Saddened to learn of the high death toll in the tragic train accident in Odisha, India. Our condolences for the families of the victims. Wish speedy recovery to the injured," he tweeted.
Several world leaders reacted to the triple train accident after 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.
Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his condolences to President of India Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said the Russian Embassy in India.
“We share the grief of those who lost their loved ones in this tragic accident and wish a speedy recovery for those injured," the message read.
Turkey also extended its condolences to the bereaved families of the deceased.
“We have learned with deep sorrow that close to 300 people lost their lives and nearly 1000 people were injured last night as a result of a train crash in Odisha, India. We extend our condolences to the relatives of those who lost their lives in this tragic accident as well as to the people and Government of India and wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” said Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement.
Japanese PM Fumio Kishida sent a message of condolence to PM Modi stating: "I am deeply saddened by the news of the loss of many precious lives and the injuries in the train accident in the State of Odisha. On behalf of the Government of Japan and people, I would like to express our heartfelt condolences to those who lost their lives and their bereaved families. I also pray for the speedy recovery of those who were injured."