Odisha Train Accident Live: Railway Ministry has put out official figure at 261.
Major train accidents that India witnessed in last 15 years
At least 233 people have died and over 900 injured in a tragic rail accident involving Coromandel Express and the SMVP-Howrah Superfast Express on Friday night, in one of the worst train accidents in India in last decade. Multiple agencies are still trying to rescue the passengers from the mangled train coaches.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said his focus is on full restoration. From time to time State Government gave accurate information. When asked about opposition demand for his resignation he said absolutely fine but its not time for politics.
Union Railway Minister Ashwani Vaishnaw in a statement appealed to all to help focus on full restoration and not to indulge in politics over the horrifying and most unfortunate railway accident in Odisha.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi talking to the media after visiting the injured in the hospital said that it was a heartbreaking incident. He said Government will extend all necessary help to the families of the dead. He said it is a very serious issue and a through probe has been ordered into the cause of the accident.
He thanked the Odisha government officials for pressing all their resources into service to take up operation rescue. He also thanked the people for joining the rescue operations, particularly the youth who went out of the way and helped the rescue teams throughout the night and also donated blood to save many lives.
He said the guilty will not be spared and highest punishment would be given to them.
He said he was at a loss of words to express his sorrow. Modi said efforts are on to restore the track and hoped that the train services would soon be restored.
Modi said he visited the site and hospital and spoke to the injured. We cannot bring back who lost lives. I express my deepest condolences and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured, he added.
The PM said one needs to learn several lessons from this accident and need to take corrective measures. He said the infrastructure too was badly damaged.
Earlier West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee also visited the site. She said a high level committee has been constituted to probe into the cause of accident by Prime Minister. Its not time to indulge in politics, she said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the accident site in Balasore. He, along with officials and union railway minister went around the area where the ghastly accident took place and inquired how such a horrifying accident took place. He also inquired about the rescue operations. He would soon visit hospitals where the injured are undergoing treatment.
#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the site of #BalasoreTrainAccident.#OdishaTrainTragedy pic.twitter.com/rlnQuM9ozS
— ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2023
Aghast at the horrific train collision that killed 233 passengers and left many more wounded
My heartfelt condolences & prayers to all the families of the passengers who lost their loved ones and those affected 🙏
What happened to the Anti Collision Devices ? This is indeed a…— KTR (@KTRBRS) June 3, 2023
17 helicopters have been positioned for relief and rescue operations by the Indian Air Force (IAF). The operations are being carried out in coordination with the railway authorities on the ground. Exact location of the helicopters and deployment info can be obtained from Indian railways.
Railway authorities hand over ex-gratia amount of Rs. 50,000 to injured passengers
Railway authorities are handing over ex-gratia amount of Rs. 50,000 to the injured passengers at the Soro medical units, sources said.