Death toll rises to 233,, 900 injured as 2 passenger trains derail in Odisha; CM Naveen Patnaik announces one-day state mourning

The Odisha government has issued an emergency contact number — 06782-262286. Additional fire service teams, doctors and ambulances are also being rushed from nearby districts.

PTI and agencies, Chennai, June 3, 2023:  Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday spoke to his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik following the accident of the Coromandel Express train, and announced that he was deputing a four-member panel to coordinate the rescue of Tamils on the train.

At least 233 people are feared dead, 24 rescued, and around 900 injured as 10-12 coaches of the Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express and 3-4 coaches of another train from Yeswanthpur to Howrah derailed near Baleswar in Odisha late last night. Four coaches of the Chennai-bound Coromandel Express was derailed in Odisha’s Balasore district on Friday evening, following which it collided head-on with a goods train coming from the opposite direction on the other line around 7 pm Friday.

The derailment of 10 to 12 coaches of the Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express caused them to fall onto the opposite track. Subsequently, the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express collided with the derailed coaches, leading to the derailment of three to four of its own coaches. Adding to the tragedy, a goods train was also involved in the crash.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Saturday that he has ordered a high-level probe into the derailment. "The accident was unfortunate, and the rescue operation began shortly after the incident was reported to his ministry," the minister said, as quoted by ANI. The railway ministry has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 10 lakh to the kin of the deceased, Rs. 2 lakh to those severely injured, and Rs. 50,000 to those who sustained with minor injuries.

Expressing shock over the accident, Chief Minister M K Stalin tweeted that he spoke to Patnaik and said the details shared by the latter about the accident were “worrying”.

The chief minister also condoled the lives lost in the incident.

“I have asked Transport Minister S S Sivasankar and 3 IAS officials to rush to Odisha to rescue the Tamils involved in the accident. Have directed setting up a helpline,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Southern Railway has set up a helpdesk at Chennai Central railway station here. It also announced the helpline numbers– 044-25330952, 044-25330953 and 044-25354771.

The South Western Railway has also set up helplines: Bengaluru – 080-22356409; Bangarpet – 08153 255253; Kuppam – 8431403419, SMVB – 09606005129; KJM – +91 88612 03980. 

While a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team is carrying out rescue operations at the crash site, seven other teams are being rushed from Mundali in Cuttack district to the spot, NDRF DIG Mohseen Shahedi told The Indian Express. The NDRF is also dispatching four sniffer dogs and the teams are equipped with stretchers, gas cutters, lifting pads, first-aid kits and other equipment. The estimated strength of the seven teams is more than 200 personnel. The Balasore Collector has also been directed to reach the spot and make all necessary arrangements, and intimate the SRC if any additional help is required from the state.

The Odisha government has issued an emergency contact number — 06782-262286. Additional fire service teams, doctors and ambulances are also being rushed from nearby districts.

Officials in both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu said they are closely coordinating with Odisha authorities following the train tragedy there.

While the Coromandel Express was heading to Chennai, the Howrah Superfast Express had departed from Bengaluru. According to the sources in South Western Railways (SWR), 994 reserved passengers and about 300 unreserved passengers had boarded the latter from Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal.

The SWR in a statement said, “It is learnt that 2 GS coaches and Brake Van of a train that left from SMVT derailed. As they were unreserved coaches, it will take some time to ascertain identity of passengers.”

An official said that they were getting several inquiry calls.

In Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister M K Stalin had a telephonic conversation with his Odisha counterpart.

A delegation led by Tamil Nadu’s Transport Minister, S S Sivasankar, will depart from Chennai on Saturday morning for the site of the accident in Odisha.

According to Sivasankar, senior government officials from Tamil Nadu are in constant communication with their Odisha counterparts to organise the necessary assistance and exchange more details about the accident.

An official in-charge at the MGR Chennai Central Station said a dedicated helpline desk has been set up at the station. “We are still awaiting passenger information,” he said.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announces one-day state mourning as 10-12 coaches of the Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express and 3-4 coaches of another train from Yeswanthpur to Howrah derailed near Baleswar in Odisha late last night.