The dead toll from a three-train collision in Odisha’s Balasore has risen to 261, according to South Eastern Railways on Saturday.
Injured passengers were sent to hospitals in the states of Gopalpur, Khantapara, Balasore, Bhadrak, and Soro. According to reports, around 900 people were hurt in the event.
Railway authorities said that the rescue operation at the accident site has been finished and that restoration work is underway.
Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is personally supervising the rehabilitation process.
According to railway authorities, the Chairman of the Railway Board is in Cuttack Hospital, while the DG-Health of the Railway Board is at Balasore Hospital, monitoring the care of wounded passengers.
The wounded passengers are being cared for at different hospitals by the South Eastern Railway’s Principal Chief Medical Director and General Manager. The repair work at the derailment site is being overseen by Member Infrastructure, Railway Board, according to the official release.
On three distinct lines at Bahanaga Bazar Station in the State’s Balasore district, the accident included the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Coromandel Express, and a freight train.
According to a preliminary assessment issued today by Odisha’s Special Relief Commissioner’s State Emergency Operation Centre in Bhubaneswar, the tragedy occurred at 7 a.m. on Friday.
According to the report, 17 coaches of these two trains were derailed and seriously damaged, and all wounded and trapped people were rescued.
Rescue activities are being carried out by seven NDRF teams, five Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) units, and 24 Fire Services and Emergency Units.
According to the announcement, over 100 medical teams with paramedics and medications have been mobilised to the accident scene for medical care.
Over 200 ambulances were used to transport wounded people to hospitals in Soro, Balasore, Bhadrak, and Cuttack.
Thirty buses have been hired to transport trapped travellers. The Odisha government is giving free transportation to stranded people from both Odisha and West Bengal.
Injured people in the state get free medical care at government and private facilities.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw visited the accident scene and assessed the situation.
Today, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also visited the accident scene to assess the situation. On June 2 evening, he met with the Chief Secretary, Development Commissioner, 5T Secretary, Secretary Transport, Secretary I & PR, and other Senior Officers at the Special Relief Commissioner’s office at Rajiv Bhawan in Bhubaneswar.
According to the Office of the Special Relief Commissioner, Odisha, the Odisha Chief Secretary also reviewed the issue with the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister through virtual mode.
Odisha has proclaimed today a day of sorrow.
The South Eastern Railway has cancelled 33 trains and rerouted 36 others. (ANI)
