Photo: AFP-
Metropolis Desk –
On Friday, June 2, a collision between the Coromandel Express and the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express resulted in at least 300 fatalities and over 900 injuries. The Coromandel Express operates between Bengal’s Shalimar station in West Bengal and Chennai.
There were numerous passenger casualties as a result of the crash that happened close to Bahanaga railway station in Odisha. A cargo train was also reportedly engaged in the tragic incident, according to Pradeep Jena, the chief secretary for Odisha.
The Coromandel Express experienced a derailment near Baleswar when about 10 to 12 carriages tumbled into the opposing track. According to Railway Spokesperson Amitabh Sharma, the second passenger train leaving Yeswanthpur then slammed into the already-derailed carriages.
Rescue efforts are being supervised by Sudhanshu Sarangi, chief of the Odisha Fire Services. A total of 115 ambulances have been mobilized, and medical schools and hospitals in the Balasore area have been informed.
The National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) and its state counterpart are searching for trapped passengers and clearing debris to get to them with more than 100 personnel.
Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal, stated that she and other senior bureaucrats, including the chief secretary, are continuously monitoring the situation.
Naveen Patnaik, the chief minister of Odisha, has instructed Revenue Minister Pramila Malik to visit the accident scene, according to the news outlet PTI.
Speaking with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “Distressed by the train accident in Odisha. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. Spoke to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and took stock of the situation. Rescue ops are underway at the site of the mishap and all possible assistance is being given to those affected.”
Source – NDTV