Prime Minister Modi will visit the accident site at Bahanaga Station in Balasore, Odisha today where a tragic accident involving three trains happened on Friday night. Prime Minister will also visit Cuttack Hospital people injured due to the incident are being treated, according to ANI.
This deadly triple train accident has led to mass casualties and injured several people. As per the latest estimate of South eastern railway, the death toll stands at 261. And around 900 people have been injured as per the preliminary report by the state emergency operation centre.
People injured in the accident have been taken to the hospital of Gopalpur, Khantapira, Balasore, Bhadrak and Soro according to south eastern railway.
The incident occurred due to the derailing of the couches of two different trains on tracks. Several couches of Bengaluru-Howrah superfast express(12864) derailed and fell on the track next to it. After some time, another express train, Shalimar-Chennai coromandel express (12841) coming from the opposite direction on a parallel track collided with derailed couches. Several of the couches of coromandel espresso also derailed and collided with the resting goods train on the third track. This series of accidents happen at Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore district around 7 pm.
The Central Government has deployed seven disaster response force (NDRF) teams to perform rescue operations. Five Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) units and 24 fire services including emergency services units are also engaged in the rescue operation.
Plus, Indian Air Force (IAF) is also involved in the rescue effort and coordinating with civil administration and Indian Railway closely. IAF has deployed an M1-17 helicopter for the evacuation of the Deceased and injured.
While reacting to the incident, Union Railway minister, Ashwani Vaishnav tweeted, “My prayers for the injured and condolences to the bereaved families. Rescue teams mobilised from Bhubaneswar and Kolkata. NDRF, state govt. teams and Airforce also mobilised”. “Will take all hands required for the rescue ops, Vashnav further added.
The railway minister has reached the incident spot yesterday and supervising the rescue operation since then. Union Minister has ordered a high-level inquiry operation. The rail safety commissioner will also conduct a detailed inquiry, said the railway minister on Saturday (ANI)
Prime Minister has also expressed his condolence for the victims by tweeting, “Distressed by the train accident in Odisha. In the hour of grief, my things are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. Spoke to the Railway minister and took stock of the situation”. Rescue ops are underway at the site of the mishap and all possible assistance is being given to those affected, PM added further in his tweet.
Senior Congress leader and the chairperson of the Congress Parliamentry Party, Sonia Gandhi, has also expressed grief saying that she is pained and anguished by the terrible train disaster in Odisha. “I extend my deepest sympathy and condolences to all the bereaved families”, Ms Gandhi said (ANI).
The central government has announced a compensation of ₹10 for the next to the kin of those poeple who Died. ₹2 lakh for the grievous and ₹50 thousand for a minor injury.
West Bengal CM, Mamata Banerjee, has also announced a compensation of ₹5 lakhs each for the next of kin of those people from the state who died in the accident. ₹1 lakh each for those with serious injuries and ₹50,000 each for those with minor injuries.