LAGATAR24 DESK
Balasore, June 3: It’s a race against time for over 2,000 rescue personnel from the NDRF and other agencies who have so far recovered at least 238 bodies that were buried under the derailed coaches of Chennai-bound Coromandel Express and Yashwantpur-Howrah Express, reports the Indian Express.
The tragic collision involving both the passenger trains and a goods train occurred near Bahanaga Bazar Station in Odisha’s Balasore around 7 pm on Friday.
According to officials, the toll is likely to go up as several coaches are still lying scattered on the tracks, which also affected train movement on Chennai-Howrah route. More than 900 injured have been rushed to different hospitals in Balasore and nearby districts.
Around 10 of 23 coaches including two of general class, five of sleeper class (S1 to S5) and two of AC class (B4, B5) of Coromandel Express have been severely damaged in the collision, leading to maximum casualties. Two general coaches of Yashwantpur-Howrah Express also overturned, said official sources in South Eastern Railway.
Bodies are being brought to a school at Bahanaga as the district administration has been working on warfooting to prepare a temporary morgue at the Balasore industrial park for their preservation. Though the deceased are yet to be identified, official sources said most of the deceased are those who were heading to Chennai and other nearby cities in search of a livelihood. The deceased in the Howrah-bound train are believed to be the labourers, who were returning home.
The rescue personnel are collecting their luggages, other belongings and documents hoping these could help in identification of the bodies.
Sahidal Shekh, 35, from Nadia area in West Bengal was travelling to Chennai along with his friend Nizam Mondal in a sleeper coach of the Coromandel Express. Both Sahidal and Nizam were among those looking for a bus to head back to their homes.
“We work as carpenters in a saw mill in Kerala. From Chennai, we would have taken another train to Kerala. I thank the almighty for saving us,” said Shekh, who sustained minor injuries on his left hand.
About the collision, Shekh said he and Nizam were having a chat when they heard a terrible and loud noise. “I couldn’t understand what it was,” he added.
Meanwhile, hundreds of volunteers were seen standing in a queue outside the blood bank at Balasore Hospital to donate blood for the injured. Official sources said over 500 units of blood had been collected overnight at Balasore. Chief secretary PK Jena said around 900 units of blood are in stock at present.
