LAGATAR24 DESK
Bhubaneswar, June 3: At least 261 people are dead and more than 900 injured after 10-12 coaches of the Chennai-bound Coromandel Express derailed and fell on an adjacent track in the path of another train from Yeswanthpur to Howrah near Balasore in Odisha late last night, reports The Indian Express.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inspected the triple train accident site at Bahanaga in Odisha’s Balasore district to take stock of relief and restoration operations. He was accompanied by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and was briefed on the situation by both Vaishnaw as well as officers of the disaster management team.
A massive rescue operation is underway at the accident site in Bahanaga Bazar near Balasore to retrieve people trapped in the derailed coaches. This is considered one of the deadliest train crashes in India in recent times. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw ordered for a high-level probe into the incident and announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh in case of death, Rs 2 lakh for the grievously injured and Rs 50,000 for those with minor injuries.
? Emergency helpline numbers: The Odisha government has also issued an emergency contact number — 06782-262286. Additional fire service teams, doctors and ambulances are also being rushed from nearby districts.
Govt will leave no stone unturned for the treatment of those injured, says PM
“It’s a painful incident. Govt will leave no stone unturned for the treatment of those injured. It’s a serious incident, instructions issued for probe from every angle. Those found guilty will be punished stringently. Railway is working towards track restoration. I met the injured victims,” said PM Modi after meeting the injured victims of the Odisha train accident at Balasore.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inspected the train accident site at Bahanaga in Odisha’s Balasore district and took stock of the relief and restoration operations on Saturday, besides being briefed about the incident.
