The toll in the tragic triple train accident in Odisha has risen to 261 and is expected to rise, South Eastern Railway officials said on Saturday. The rescue operations have been completed, and the teams are now focusing on recovery.
The train crash, one of the deadliest in the country, took place in Balasore district about 250 km south of Kolkata and 170 km north of Bhubaneswar around 7 pm on Friday, prompting the Railway Ministry to order a probe. The Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and a goods train were involved in the accident. According to sources, there were about 1,257 reserved passengers onboard Coromandal Express and 1,039 reserved passengers onboard Bengaluru-Howrah Express.
Though the cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained, sources told ANI that the Coromandel Express train was going at full speed as it was not supposed to stop at the Bahanaga Bazar station. “The Coromandel Express train met with an accident and dashed with stationery goods train at the station. The impact was such that its 21 coaches derailed with its 3 coaches infringing on the other line. Simultaneously, Bengaluru-Howrah Express was passing through Bahanaga Bazar station and collided and its rearmost 2 coaches derailed,” sources further said on Saturday.
Meanwhile West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was the railway minister twice, flew to the accident site on Saturday afternoon to take stock of rescue operations. Banerjee announced that her government would pay Rs 5 lakh compensation to the families of passengers from West Bengal killed in the accident. The railways announced an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased, Rs 2 lakh for those grievously injured and Rs 50,000 for those who got minor injuries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an additional ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured from the PM's National Relief Fund (PMNRF). Modi will also arrive at the accident site later today.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has deputed a team led by Minister Santosh Lad to ensure the safety of Kannadigas in the tragic accident. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin also sent a delegation to the accident site.