Coromandel Express accident: Multiple dead, 600 injured; 'distressed' PM Modi dials Railway Minister | Top points
2 min read 02 Jun 2023, 10:08 PM ISTThe fatal train accident in Balasore has left 179 injured and over 50 are feared dead.
PremiumThe 12841 Shalimar-Coromandel Express collided with a goods train on Friday evening, injuring several persons, at Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore district of Odisha. According to latest estimates, over 600 passengers are injured and over 120 people are feared dead owing to this fatal train accident.
Here are the big points to this story
-The accident happened around 7.20 pm near Bahanaga Bazar station when the train was on the way to Chennai Central station from Shalimar station near Kolkata
-The Coromandel express accident- occurred when the superfast express train was travelling from Shalimar station in Howrah to Chennai Central station in Tamil Nadu, an official said.
However the railway version of the accident states that a derailment occurred before the goods train collided with the superfast express.
-The Coromandel Express, which runs from Kolkata to Chennai, derailed after the collision and fell on the opposite track causing the Coromandel express accident-
-At least 50 people are feared dead, and over 179 injured. Locals who are assisting the rescue operation told PTI that many passengers are stuck underneath the derailed coaches
-Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted he has spoken to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. "Distressed by the train accident in Odisha. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. Spoke to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw 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 Modi said.
-West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, while her officials said Bengal is sending a team led by a Minister to the spot to aid victims.
-Four units of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), three units of NDRF and 60 ambulances were working to rescue the injured.
-Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik directed Sahoo and Revenue Minister Pramila Malik to rush to the accident site, officials said.
-"Nearly 50 ambulances have reported but the injured appear far too many. Large (number) of buses being mobilised to shift injured to hospital", Pradeep Jena, Odisha's Chief Secretary, wrote on Twitter.
If you are stuck, or know someone who is in the accident, please note the following details
Helpline number 06782-262286
Railway helpline Number-
033-26382217 (Howrah)
8972073925 (Kharagpur)
8249591559 (Balasore)
044- 25330952 (Chennai)
MAS help line number given at Control office and special booth opening
044- 25330952
044-25330953
044-25354771