Odisha Triple Train Derailment Leaves Over 230 Dead: 10 Things To Know

India witnessed one of the deadliest crashes in recent times, where three-train collided in Odisha, causing fatal casualties and injuring hundreds of people. The crash involving three train Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, and a goods train occurred on Friday, 2 June, around 7 pm in Odisha's Balasore.  

Odisha Triple Train Accident

Here are the ten things to know about the accident

• The officials so far confirmed at least 238 people dead and over 900 injured. However, the rescuers are engaged in relief efforts to remove passengers trapped in the damaged rail coaches as well as recover bodies.

• It all happened near Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore, the train from Howrah to Chennai rammed into the derailed coaches of the other train, Bengaluru to Kolkata. Further followed by a collision with a freight train causing a crash of several coaches.

• However, what exactly happened is still unclear as Odisha's Chief Secretary PK Jena claimed several coaches of the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express derailed and fell on adjacent tracks. These derailed coaches collided with the 12841 Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, Whereas railway spokesperson Amitabh Sharma told PTI that the Coromandel Express derailed first with its 10-12 coaches falling on the line on which the Bengaluru- Howrah Express was running.

• The rescue operations already started, since last night over 60 ambulances, 50 buses, and 45 mobile health units were working at the accident site. The nearby hospitals have been put on alert.

• Over three NDRF units, four Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force units, over 15 fire rescue teams, 30 doctors, and overall 200 police personnel were mobilised to the site, Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep told NDTV.

• Army is also deployed to assist in the evacuation. Army medical and engineering teams with ambulances & support services have been deployed at the site.

• Post-accident, 40 long-distance trains have been reportedly cancelled. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw expressed a high-level investigation committee will be set up to investigate the crash.

• The railways announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the deceased, Rs 2 lakh for the injured, and Rs 50,000 for those who got minor injuries.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi also declared an additional ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the family of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured from the PM's National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
  
• West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee reportedly spoke over a phone call with Naveen Patnaik and will be visiting the train accident site. 
  

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