Odisha train accident | HIGHLIGHTS

"I commend each and every person belonging to the teams of railways, NDRF, ODRAF, local authorities, police, fire service, volunteers and others who are working tirelessly on the ground and strengthening the rescue ops. Proud of their dedication," said PM Modi. 

Three brothers from West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district, who were travelling to Tamil Nadu in search of work, lost their lives in the train crash in Odisha's Balasore, officials said on Saturday. Haran Gayen (40), Nishikant Gayen (35) and Dibakar Gayen (32), residents of Charanikhali village in Basanti Uttar, usually lived in the southern state most time of the year and did menial jobs there.
They came home a few days back, and were going back to Tamil Nadu this time in the Coromandel Express in search of work as farm labourers. As the news of their deaths came, a pall of gloom descended on the village. Their wives fell unconscious as neighbours continued consoling them.

The Indian Navy has deployed medical teams in Odisha's Balasore district to support the local administration in treatment of those injured in the horrific accident involving three trains. Navy officials said the Indian Navy is working in close coordination with Odisha's state administration to provide medical relief and support to the injured. The accident claimed at least 288 lives and left 803 injured, in one of the worst railway tragedies in the country. "A medical and support team of 43 personnel including surgical specialist and medical assistants, ambulances and support services from INS Chilka were dispatched last night and are presently attending to the injured, extending immediate medical relief and OT (Operation Theatre) facilities at the district headquarters hospital at Balasore," said a Navy official.

There was the sound of screeching brakes and then a loud crashing of metal, recalls Anubhav Das, a passenger of the Coromandel Express that rammed into a goods train in Odisha's Balasore. Though he came out of the accident unhurt, the screams of help of those stuck in derailed mangled coaches still ring in his ears. "It was a horrific sight. There were people injured, some crawling from under the train's debris," he posted on Twitter. Later, he said, he came to know that not just his train but another express train was involved in the accident. Initially, in a series of tweets, Das described how he thought the accident unfolded.

The Telangana government on Saturday offerred support to the Odisha Government and the Railway authorities in rescue and relief operations relating to the ghastly railway accident that took place in Balasore district in Odisha. As per the directions of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, the government contacted the Odisha Government and the Railway authorities and conveyed its readiness to extend all support, an official release said. According to General Manager, South Central Railways Secunderabad, as of now, there are no passengers from Telangana among the injured or among casualties. However, State officials are in constant touch with Railways, the release added.

Till now 1175 patients were admitted to private hospitals out of which 793 patients have been discharged while 382 patients continue to be in hospital among which 2 are critical, rest all are stable: Odisha Health Department

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent messages of condolence respectively to Indian President Droupadi Murmu and PM Narendra Modi over the heavy casualties caused by the train accident in Odisha. Chinese Premier Li Qiang also sent a condolence message to PM Narendra Modi.

"Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to visit AIIMS Bhubaneswar and Medical College in Cuttack tomorrow to take stock of medical assistance being provided to the injured victims of Odisha Train Accident," said sources.

At least 35 people from West Bengal have died and 544 sustained injuries in the Odisha train accident, the state government said on Saturday. In another unfortunate incident, a bus carrying seven injured West Bengal passengers from Balasore met with an accident at Hosenbad in Paschim Medinipur on Saturday, police said. However, nobody was injured. "As of now, 35 passengers from West Bengal lost their lives in the accident while another 544 were injured. The numbers are likely to go up," an official said. The official added that a train carrying 700 passengers from Balasore is set to arrive at Howrah station on Saturday night.

Around 48 trains were cancelled, mostly in the Southern and South Eastern Railway Zones, while 39 were diverted and 10 short-terminated following the three-train accident in Odisha's Balasore on Friday in which 288 people were killed. According to the latest data released by the two zones, the South Eastern Railway cancelled trains such as the Chennai-Howrah Mail, the Darbhanga-Kanniyakumari Express and the Kamakhya-LTT Express journey commencing o­n June 3. It has also cancelled the Patna-Puri Special train with journey commencing on June 4.

"The rescue operation is almost complete. The operation of the last bogie has started. So far the death toll has been around 288. The injured are undergoing treatment," said Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena. 

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reacted to an incident earlier today at Balasore Train Accident site where West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee disagreed with him on the death toll, said, "...we want full transparency, this is not time to do politics, this is time to focus on making sure that restoration happens at the earliest."

"This is a very sad incident...More than 250 people have died. If one train met with an accident then how come the other two trains were not stopped, there must be some error that needs to be investigated by an independent retired judge," said National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on the Balasore train mishap. 

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) on Saturday asked airlines to monitor and take necessary action in case of any abnormal surge in airfares to and from Bhubaneswar, in view of the train accident in the state. Besides, the ministry said that any cancellation and rescheduling on flights due to the incident may be done without penal charges.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao expressed shock and grief over the death of several people in the tragic train accident in Odisha. Rao regretted that it was a most unfortunate incident and expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved families. The Chief Minister requested the State and Union Governments to take steps to provide better treatment to the injured and extend adequate support to the families of those who lost their lives in the accident, an official release said.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Saturday said Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw must resign on moral grounds after the Odisha train tragedy a day earlier in which more than 260 persons died and nearly 1,000 were injured. The Coromandel Express, the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, carrying close to 2,000 passengers cumulatively, and a goods train were involved in a derailment-collision accident near Bahanagar Bazar station in the eastern state on Friday night. "The entire nation is heartbroken with the accident. The Bharatiya Janata Party talks about morality and decency. So he (Vaishnaw) should immediately resign," Baghel told reporters at Rajiv Bhavan, the Chhattisgarh Congress' headquarters in Raipur.

As of 2 pm today, the death toll in Odisha Train Tragedy has risen to 288 while 747 people have been injured along with 56 grievously injured: Indian Railways

NCP President Sharad Pawar speaks on the Odisha Train Tragedy, said, "This is a very unfortunate incident. Everyone's demand is to conduct a detailed probe into the accident case."

The Trinamool Congress Saturday slammed the BJP-led government at the Centre over the train disaster in Odisha and accused it of neglecting passenger safety. It said the Centre cannot evade the onus of the tragedy, which has left 261 passengers dead and about a 1000 injured. The BJP stung by the criticisms urged TMC to refrain from indulging in politics over the tragic incident. The Indian Railways has ordered a high-level probe to ascertain the cause of the accident. West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, who visited the accident site on Saturday afternoon, claimed that the railway ministry is being neglected.

"In the past, five railway ministers resigned taking moral responsibility for major accidents (during their tenure). In the same way, the current railway minister (Vaishnaw) should take moral responsibility and tender his resignation," Ajit Pawar said.

BJP MP Varun Gandhi on Saturday urged fellow parliamentarians to donate a part of their salary to help the families of victims of the Odisha train accident. They should first get support and then justice, he said in a tweet. Calling the disaster heart-rending, he said people will have to stand with the grief-stricken families like a rock.

Large cranes and bulldozers tried on Saturday to lift the last remaining coach that rescuers have not reached yet among the strewn and mangled wreckage of three trains that rammed into each other in rapid sequence in Odisha's Balasore district, officials said. The accident on Friday night killed at least 261 people and injured nearly 1,000 in one of the worst railway tragedies of the country. The Indian Railways has ordered a high-level probe to ascertain the cause of the accident. Gas cutters were used to extricate the bodies from under the derailed coaches. From a vantage point high above the ground, the accident site looked like as if a powerful whirlwind had thrown the coaches on top of each other. Closer to the ground, bloodied and disfigured bodies laid enmeshed with each other, creating a grotesque sight.

"With the support of the Centre, Odisha government can face any challenge. We are a state which has faced (cyclone) Fani and other challenges and earned a name in the world & we have accepted this challenge and will fight it successfully with the help of PM, CM." said Odisha governor Governor Ganeshi Lal on Balasore Train Accident. 

Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal met the injured of the train accident at the Community Health Centre in Soro, Balasore and asked the doctors to ensure proper treatment for them.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reached the accident site in Balasore. Questioning the railway ministry, she said the accident could have been avoided if there was an anti-collision system in the train. She also demanded a thorough investigation into the incident. 

Doctors from AIIMS-Bhubaneswar have been dispatched to Balasore and Cuttack in Odisha to assist in the relief operations at the site of the train accident that killed at least 261 people, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said.  "Two teams of doctors from AIIMS-Bhubaneswar have been dispatched for Balasore and Cuttack to assist in relief operations at the rail accident site in Odisha," he wrote on Twitter. 

A special train carrying stranded passengers from Odisha's Balasore arrived at Howrah railway station in West Bengal. Later in the day, West Bengal Chief Minister is slated to visit the accident sites to take stock of the situation in Balasore. 

The rescue operations have been completed at the accident site. According to reports, the railway has now also started the restoration work. Officials in Bhubaneswar said 200 ambulances, 50 buses and 45 mobile health units were working at the accident site. They further said huge cranes and bulldozers were brought in to raise a coach which was buried by the impact of another wagon falling on it. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Balasore to take stock of the situation of the tragic incident. "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 @AshwiniVaishnaw  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," he tweeted on Friday.

Aerial visuals from drone camera showed the extent of the damage. The train crash, the fourth deadliest in India according to available records, happened near the Bahanaga Baazar station in Balasore district, about 250 km south of Kolkata and 170 km north of Bhubaneswar. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting to review the situation of the horrific accident. Earlier today, Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reached the spot and supervised the rescue operation. 

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to visit Odisha's Balasore today to take stock of the situation and meet the injured. As per the officials, a total of around 200 ambulances; including 167 of 108 fleet and over 20 government ambulances were deployed at the spot, along with 45 Mobile Health Teams for the rescue operation. 

Tamil Nadu Ministers Udhayanidhi Stalin, Siva Shankar, and Anbil Mahesh reached Chennai Airport. They are travelling to Odisha's Balasore to take stock of the situation. "We're going there to enquire for details. Tamil Nadu CM has spoken to Odisha CM. I will update you after reaching the spot. Hospital facilities are also ready for Tamilians in Tamil Nadu who got affected by the train accident," said Tamil Nadu Min Udhayanidhi Stalin.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik arrived at the accident spot to take stock of the situation. He also interacted with Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnav at the site.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin declared one-day state mourning following the Balasore train accident in Odisha. Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Police in Cuttack, Pinak Mishra said that all security precautions to admit the injured were put in place following the mishap. 

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reached the accident spot in Balasore to review the situation. Meanwhile, Jacob Kispotta, Senior Commandant, NDRF, said at least six teams are working here since last night (Friday). "Our dog squad and medical team are also engaged in the rescue operation," he added. 

The Indian Army has also pressed into action to assist in the rescue operation. Speaking to the media, Colonel SK Dutta said the Army is continuously engaged in rescue operations since last night and that more troops are coming from Kolkata. 

People queued up in Balasore to donate blood after the horrific train accident in Balasore. As per State's Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena, one severely damaged compartment still remains and NDRF, ODRAF & Fire Service are working to cut through it to try to recover the living or the dead.

West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar interacted with the injured in Fakir Mohan Medical College & Hospital in Balasore. Several coaches of the Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express derailed near Bahanaga station in Odisha's Balasore after hitting a goods train.

Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena said injured passengers are being treated in various hospitals in Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Jajpur and Cuttack districts. The search & rescue operation is going on, he added. 

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has ordered state mourning for a day. In view of the tragic mishap, no celebration will take place on Saturday across the state. According to officials, the death toll is likely to increase further. 

The latest visuals have emerged from the site of the deadly train accident in Odisha's Balasore. The rescue operation is underway.

The railway ministry has announced an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of those who lost their lives. The ministry has also announced Rs 2 Lakh towards grievous and Rs 50,000 for minor injuries. 

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said he had ordered a high-level probe into the derailment on Friday night. Speaking to the media, Vaishnaw said the accident was unfortunate and the rescue operation began shortly after word of the incident reached his ministry. He said the probe was ordered to determine what caused the derailment of the passenger train coaches.

The death toll has risen to 233 and more than 900 people are reported injured so far in the horrific train accident, said Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena.

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Balasore, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar have been informed that all BSKY empanelled private hospitals to keep beds ready to receive patients from accident site.

Injured victims of the train accident were brought to a hospital in Balasore.

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 operation is underway at the spot.

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi today said he was "extremely distressed" over the Coromandel Express accident in Odisha, in which 350 people were injured and 50 feared killed. "Extremely distressed by the accident of Chennai-bound Coromandel Express in Odisha. My heart goes (out) to the families who lost their dear ones. May the injured recover fast. All out rescue and relief operations are going on," a Raj Bhavan official tweet quoted him as saying. BJP TN chief K Annamalai expressed anguish over the fatal accident and condoled the loss of lives.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw rushing to the accident site in Odisha today