So far 233 people have died in this horrific train accident and more than 900 passengers have been injured.
So far 233 people have died and more than 900 passengers have been injured in the gruesome train accident on Friday in Balasore, Odisha. Several coaches of the Howrah-Bangalore train derailed and rammed into the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express on another track, officials said. After this the coaches of the Coromandel train also got derailed and collided with the goods train passing by. Painful pictures of the aftermath of the accident have emerged from the spot. Some of the passengers narrated the scene they had witnessed.
#WATCH | Balasore, Odisha: A passenger who was in one of the derailed trains tells about the moment when the horrific train accident took place leaving hundreds injured so far. pic.twitter.com/z9MWc0T5mA
— ANI (@ANI) June 2, 2023
There was a sudden jolt, 15 people fell on me
A passenger who survived the accident said that despite being a reserved category, the coach was overcrowded. The train overturned, I was sleeping at that time. Suddenly there was a jolt, when I opened my eyes, at least 15 people fell on me. Somehow he came out after saving his life, then he saw that no one had hands, no one had feet. Someone’s face was badly disfigured. I got hurt in many places, but thank God my life was saved. At the same time, another passenger Govinda Mandal told that we felt that now we will not be able to escape. Somehow some passengers broke the windows of the bogie, then we got out.
#WATCH | Visuals from the site of the train accident in Odisha’s Balasore district where two passenger trains and one goods train met with an accident leaving hundreds injured. Rescue operations underway at the spot pic.twitter.com/6EdGystBk3
— ANI (@ANI) June 2, 2023
An injured passenger admitted to the hospital said that around 6:55 pm there was some sound and then the train overturned. Then it came to know that there was a train accident. The passenger said that many people were injured in the accident. Ambulances and rescue workers arrived immediately.
#WATCH | Somyaranjan Sethy, one of the victims of the horrific train accident in Odisha’s Balasore, narrates about the incident pic.twitter.com/n0MnuyB8s3
— ANI (@ANI) June 2, 2023
scene beyond description
Rupam Banerjee, a passenger, told reporters, after the accident, the local villagers were the first to reach the spot and started helping the passengers. They spared no effort to help. Not only did people get out of bogies, but also found their belongings and brought them water to the victims. Another passenger said, gas cutters were used to rescue people trapped in the toilets of bogies and coaches. Some of the scenes at the scene are beyond description.
600 passengers injured
Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena told the media in Bhubaneswar that according to information received at 11:45 pm, around 600 injured passengers have been admitted to various hospitals. About 80 doctors are present on the spot. We are yet to get the exact figure of the dead, but the figure we have got is between 55-60. He said that three teams of NDRF and more than 20 Fire Service and Rescue teams are present at the spot. District Collector, SP, Range IG are monitoring the relief and rescue operations on the spot. Around 500-600 rescue personnel are present there.
Inauguration ceremony of Goa-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express canceled
On the other hand, the function of Goa-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express was canceled after the Odisha train accident. Konkan Railway officials on Friday said the inaugural function of the Goa-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express at Madgaon station has been canceled in view of the derailment involving three trains in Odisha. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to flag off the Goa-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express via video link on Saturday morning, while Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav was to be present at Madgaon station for the ceremony.
#WATCH | Visuals from the spot where the horrific train accident took place in Odisha’s Balasore district
Government of India has confirmed 2 deaths so far and Odisha Chief Secy Pradeep Jena has said that 300-400 have been injured pic.twitter.com/CEsbiNVZQn
— ANI (@ANI) June 2, 2023
Officials said Vaishnav was going to Odisha to take stock of the train accident and the ceremony was cancelled. At the same time, after the horrific train accident, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan left for Balasore on Friday night.
