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Odisha train accident LIVE Updates: PM Modi to visit crash site in Balasore, death toll rises to 261

233 people have died as a result of the triple-train accident in Balasore, Odisha, ANI reported in the latest update on the tragedy.

Reported By:DNA Web Team| Edited By: DNA Web Team |Source: DNA Web Desk |Updated: Jun 03, 2023, 01:00 PM IST

Odisha train accident LIVE Updates: PM Modi to visit crash site in Balasore, death toll rises to 261
Odisha train accident

Odisha triple train accident updates: A horrible railway accident occurred in Balasore, Odisha, at around 7 p.m. on Friday leaving more than 207 people dead and over 900 injured. 

The Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express' 10 to 12 derailed coaches fell into the opposing track due to the accident. The Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express then struck the derailed train, causing three to four of its coaches to derail as a result. A cargo train was also involved in the collision, heightening the tragedy.

Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Railway Minister, declared on Saturday that he had directed a high-level investigation into the incident. The minister was quoted by ANI as saying, "The accident was unfortunate, and the rescue operation began shortly after the incident was reported to his ministry."

"Morning visuals from the spot where the horrific train accident took place in Odisha's Balasore district."

 

Check live updates:

6:45 am: Government announces compensation
The ex-gratia amounts issued by the railway ministry are Rs. 10 lakh for the surviving family members of the deceased, Rs. 2 lakh for those who were seriously hurt, and Rs. 50,000 for those who had suffered minor wounds.

7:05 am: State mourning announced
Naveen Patnaik, the chief minister of Odisha, announced a day of state mourning on Saturday in response to the devastating train accident that left over 200 people dead and 900 injured.

7:10 am: Watch: Latest visuals from the site of the deadly train accident in Balasore, Odisha. 

7:20 am: Rescue operation underway

7:50 am: Army joins rescue operations

7:55 am: Nepal PM extends condolences

On Satudary, Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal sent his condolences for the tragic Odisha train accident that happened after the Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express's carriages derailed, leaving at least 233 people dead.

8:11 am: Railway Minister said...
"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," said Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. 

8:33 am: The chief minister of Tamil Nadu announces a day of mourning following the Balasore train tragedy in Odisha. 

9:05 am: 'People queue up to donate blood for injured in Balasore'

9:28 am: "As per the information received till now, there are 238 casualties. Around 650 injured passengers have been taken to the Hospitals of Gopalpur, Khantapara, Balasore, Bhadrak and Soro: South Eastern Railway,"

10:15 am:

10:45 am: Visuals from Balasore hospital

10:50 am: Foreign Ministers of Australia Penny Wong, and Sri Lanka Ali Sabry condole the loss of lives in the Odisha train train accident. 

11:07 am: Virat Kohli tweets, "Saddened to hear the tragic train accident in Odisha. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families who lost their loved ones and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured."

11:37 am: "Operation is still continuing. So far state govt has announced 238 dead and more than 900 injured. Hopefully, by today evening, we should be able to close the operation. NDRF has nine teams there - seven from Odisha and two from West Bengal. Almost all the live victims have been sent to hospital so nine teams are sufficient..," says Narendra Singh Bundela, IG operation, NDRF. 

11:45 am: "A tragedy the scale of which requires the entire country to pause in silent reflection, in memory of those who have lost their lives. Om Shanti We cannot let such accidents happen again. We must get to the root cause of this tragedy. Whether human or technical error, neither should have resulted in such devastation. We need to re-look at our fail-safe mechanisms in railway operations, tweets Anand Mahindra. 

11:46 am: ANI tweeted, " Odisha train accident: Special train carrying 250 stranded passengers leaves for Chennai."

12:25 pm: Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel spoke to Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik over the phone & discussed the train accident. Expressing his deepest condolences for the victims of the accident, he offered to provide all kinds of assistance for the rescue and treatment of the injured. Chief Minister Patnaik thanked the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh. 

12:26 pm: Latest aerial visuals from the site of the deadly train accident in Balasore, Odisha. 

1:00 pm: According to the information received so far, 261 people have died. Injured passengers have been taken to the Hospitals of Gopalpur, Khantapara, Balasore, Bhadrak and Soro.