Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed his condolences to the victims of the derailment of the Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express.
“Anguished by the train accident in Odisha. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. Wishing speedy recovery to the injured. Spoke to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav and took stock of the situation. Rescue at the scene Work in progress.” All possible assistance is being extended to the accident and those affected,” the PM tweeted.
At least 47 people were injured and many more feared dead after four coaches of the Coromandel Express derailed in Odisha’s Balasore district on Friday evening, following which it collided with a goods train coming from the opposite direction on another line. Collided. ,
The accident took place around 7.20 pm near Bahanaga Bazar station when the train was going from Shalimar station near Kolkata to Chennai Central station, they said.
So far 47 people have been admitted to the Balasore Medical College and Hospital, Odisha’s Special Relief Commissioner Satyavrat Sahoo said. A PTI reporter at the spot said several people were trapped under the derailed coaches and locals were helping emergency service personnel to rescue them, but darkness was hampering the operation.
Officials said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik directed Sahu and Revenue Minister Pramila Malik to rush to the accident site. A South Eastern Railway official said accident relief trains have been dispatched to the spot.
Four units of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), three units of NDRF and 60 ambulances are working to rescue the injured, officials said.
Odisha government has issued helpline number 06782-262286. Railway helplines are 033-26382217 (Howrah), 8972073925 (Kharagpur), 8249591559 (Balasore) and 044- 25330952 (Chennai).