Odisha Train Accident LIVE News: Death Toll Rises to 288, PM Modi Takes Stock
In a massive train mishap, a passenger train collided with a freight train in Balasore on Friday night.
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Odisha Train Accident Live News Updates: At least 288 people have died and over 900 injured in a massive train mishap on Friday, 2 June, after the Coromandel Express and the Bengaluru-Howrah Express derailed in Odisha's Balasore. PM Modi has convened a meeting to review the situation.
Injured people taken to Medical College in Balasore, Soro CHC, Gopalpur CHC, and Khantapada PHC for treatment.
Rescue operations have been completed.
Restoration operations are still on.
Over 550 rescue personnel of the NDRF, ODRAF, and the fire services are said to be on the spot.
Several people are feared to be trapped inside the trains.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has ordered state-wide mourning for a day.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced ex-gratia of Rs 10 Lakh to the kin of those who passed away.
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Helpline Numbers Issued
Howrah helpline: 03326382217
Kharagpur Helpline 8972073925, 9332392339
Shalimar Helpline: 9903370746
Balasore Helpline: 8249591559, 7978418322
Vijayawada Station: 08662576924
Rajahmundry Station: 08832420541
Help Line numbers set up by SCR:
1. SCR Hqrs, Rail Nilayam, Secunderabad: 040 - 27788516
2. Vijayawada Rly Station 0866 - 2576924
3. Rajahmundry Rly Stn: 0883 - 2420541
4. Renigunta Railway Stn: 9949198414.
5. Tirupati Railway Stn: 7815915571
Helpline numbers set up by SWR:
Bangalore 080-22356409
Bangarpet: 08153 255253
Kuppam : 8431403419
SMVB : 09606005129
KJM :+91 88612 03980
Several Trains Cancelled/Diverted
Following the tragedy, several trains have either been cancelled or diverted. South Eastern Railway tweeted out lists of train alerting the public.
One-Day State Mourning in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has declared a one-day state mourning following the massive train mishap.
How Did It Happen: What We Know
According to Indian Railways Spokesperson Amitabh Sharma, about 10-12 coaches of Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express derailed near Odisha’s Balasore at around 7 PM. Some bogies fell onto the opposite track and crashed into a freight train present on the loop track. The train had started from West Bengal and was heading to Chennai.
Shortly after, another train travelling from Yeshwanthpur to Howrah dashed into the derailed coaches of Coromandel Express, and 3-4 bogies of that train also derailed.
‘Focus Now Is Rescue and Relief Operations’: Railway Min
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who reached the crash site on Saturday morning, told PTI, "Our focus now is rescue and relief operations. Cause of the train accident in Odisha will be known after probe."
'Bodies Being handed Over to Relatives': Odisha Chief Sec
Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena on Saturday told ANI, "The identified bodies are either being handed over to their relatives or transported to their respective destinations after autopsy. Statutory procedure will be followed for the unidentified ones."
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Reaches Accident Site
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reached the accident site in Balasore on Saturday morning to take stock of the situation.
Death Toll Rises to 288
According to Odisha State Revenue Minister Pramila Mallick, the death toll in the train crash has risen to 288 with over 900 injured.
Tamil Nadu CM Arrives at State Emergency Operation Centre
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin takes stock of the train mishap at the state emergency operation centre in Chennai.
Rescue Operation Continue
Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena said that 7 NDRF, 5 ODRAF (Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force), 24 Fire Service Units, local police, and volunteers are continuously conducting search and rescue operations.
Cutting Last Bogie To Rescue Victims
ANI reported that rescue teams are cutting the last bogie to rescue victims.
Italian Embassy Expresses Condolences
The Italian embassy expressed condolences to the victims' families after the crash.
Tamil Nadu Ministers Leave For Balasore
Tamil Nadu Ministers Udhayanidhi Stalin, Siva Shankar, and Anbil Mahesh reach Chennai Airport to leave for Balasore.
"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 Train accident," Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin told ANI.
'Heart-Rending': Uttarakhand CM on Odisha Train Accident
"The train accident in Odisha is heart-rending. I pray to God that may the soul of the deceased rest in peace and the bereaved families have strength in this hour of grief," says Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami.
Odisha CM Reaches Balasore District Hospital
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik arrived at the Balasore district hospital to meet the injured victims.
'Action Should Be Taken Against Those Guilty': Ajit Pawar
NCP leader Ajit Pawar, talking to the media on Saturday, said, "This is an unfortunate incident, the railway department should investigate it, and action should be taken against those who are guilty. Railways should give importance to the lives of the passengers. Earlier railway minister used to resign on such train accidents, but now no one is ready to speak."
'Unfortunate Accident': Andhra Pradesh CM
Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said, "The train accident in Odisha is unfortunate. We are talking to the railway officials and collecting the details of the victims from Andhra Pradesh. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I pray to God to give them peace of mind."
Indian Army Deployed For Rescue Operations
The Indian Army has been deployed to assist in the evacuation and treatment of injured citizens, ANI reported. Army medical and engineering teams with ambulances & support services have been deployed from the Eastern Command. The teams have been routed from multiple bases so as to reach the place of the incident as early as possible.
Rescue Operations Intensified
The Odisha government said that 200 ambulances and 45 mobile health teams have been deployed. 50 additional doctors, 25 teams of doctors from SCB, and forensic medicine specialists have also been mobilised.
Director Health Services, Director Blood Safety, Adl DMET & 3 other Addl Directors are coordinating.
'Locals Extending Help': MoS Railways
MoS Railways Raosaheb Patil Danve told ANI, "After the accident, our Minister reached Odisha and took stock of the situation at the spot. NDRF & Army were called to the spot. Local administration, Railway administration & locals are extending all help. The injured & dead have been taken to nearby hospitals. Rescue operation is underway. High-level committee has been announced by the rail administration to find out if this happened due to human error or technical reasons."
'People Coming Voluntarily to Donate Blood'
Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena said, "People are coming voluntarily to donate blood. I am getting requests from many places so it is a good sign. Since the accident till now, the local people have been providing a lot of assistance to our rescue professionals."
"I thank the local people and local teams who have worked overnight to save people from the wreckage. The injured have been taken to hospitals here in Balasore and in Cuttack," said Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik.
Medical Camps Providing First Aid to Injured Passengers
PM Modi Convenes Meeting on Train Mishap
Citing GoI sources, ANI reported that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has convened a meeting to review the situation.
Mamata Banerjee to Visit Balasore Today
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee will visit Odisha's Balasore today following the train crash which has caused 288 deaths since Friday night.
Team From Tamil Nadu To Be in Odisha For 5 Days, To Assist In Rescue Ops
Canadian PM Expresses Condolences
"The images and reports of the train crash in Odisha, India break my heart...At this difficult time, Canadians are standing with the people of India," tweeted Canadian PM Justin Trudeau.
Bihar CM Shares Condolences For Victims of Train Crash
Odisha CM Visits Balasore Hospital
'Third Such Major Incident in Our History': NDRF Chief
NDRF DG Atul Karwal, speaking to ANI on Saturday morning, said, "This is the third such major incident in our history. The force with which the three trains collided with each other resulted in several coaches getting crushed & being in a mangled condition there. It is a challenge to cut through them & get inside to ensure that the live victims are not affected.”
'Saddened To Hear About the Tragic Train Accident': Tweets Cricketer Virat Kohli
Andhra Pradesh CM Sets Up High-Level Committee
Andhra Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has constituted a high-level IAS officers committee under the aegis of the IT Minister G Amarnath to visit the site of Coromandel Express train accident in which there of loss of human lives and injuries to the passengers.
The IAS officers Committee, consisting of Civil Supplies Commissioner Arun Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Commercial taxes Anand and Srikakulam Joint Collector Naveen along with the Minister Amarnath will visit accident spot in Odisha and extend help in the relief and rescue operations.
The Chief Minister directed the officials to make arrangements in hospitals of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts to treat the injured and provide medical treatment and also keep ambulances ready.
Over 100 People Have Claimed Ex-Gratia Payments
Amitabh Sharma, Executive Director, Information Publication Railway Board, told ANI on Saturday morning, "As of now, more than 100 people have claimed ex-gratia payments. Counters for the same have been set up at three places-Balasore, Soro, and Bahanaga Bazar."
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Reaches Balasore Hospital
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reaches Balasore Medical College and Hospital.
'Railway Safety Should Always Be Given Preference': Odisha CM
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik visited the District Headquarter Hospital in Balasore and met the injured passengers who are under treatment there.
The CM said, “I am deeply distressed by this extremely tragic train accident. I have to thank the local people, the local teams who have worked overnight to save people from the wreckage. Railway safety should always be given the first preference. The people have been taken to hospital in Balasore also in Cuttack, so that they recover as fast as possible.”
PM Modi to Visit Balasore
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting the accident site in Odisha's Balasore today, following which he'll meet the injured at the hospital in Cuttack.
What We Know About the Collision Between The Three Trains
IAF Deploys Mi-17 Helicopters for Evacuation
The Indian Air Force deployed Mi-17 helicopters to assist in evacuating the victims of the Odisha train tragedy.
'17 Coaches Were Derailed, Severely Damaged': NDRF Official
Narendra Singh Bundela, IG operation, NDRF, told ANI, "17 coaches were derailed and are severely damaged. 9 teams are there on the spot. The sequence of events will be known after inquiry."
Mamata Banerjee Leaves for Balasore
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee leaves for Odisha's Balasore to take stock of the accident site and meet the victims.
'Rescue Operation Completed, Restoration Work Now'
Railways Spokesperson Amitabh Sharma has said that the rescue operation has been completed. "Now we are starting the restoration work. Kawach was not available on this route."
Special Train Carrying Stranded Passengers Arrives in West Bengal
A special train carrying stranded passengers arrived at the Howrah railway station in West Bengal on Saturday morning.
"People who received minor injuries were there on this train and provided stoppages at various places so that they could reach their homes safely. Another train is coming with around 1000 passengers," Vineet Gupta, Senior Deputy General Manager (SDGM), South Eastern Railway told ANI.
Congress Demands Timely Investigation
Former Maharashtra CM and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan told PTI, “We (Congress) demand an inquiry committee's investigation in a time-bound manner."
BJP Leaders Meet Injured in Balasore Hospital
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and BJP MP from Balasore Pratap Sarangi meet the injured at the hospital in Balasore, Odisha.
PM Modi Chairs High-Level Meeting
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is chairing a high-level meeting to take stock of the situation in Odisha.
Tamil Nadu CM Announces Ex-Gratia
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin has announced that the state will give Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased from Tamil Nadu and Rs 1 lakh each to the injured. Additional officers have been appointed to carry out rescue and relief work.
Chhattisgarh CM Offers Assistance For Evacuation
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel spoke to his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik and discussed the Balasore train accident. Expressing his deepest condolences for the victims, he offered to provide all kinds of assistance for the rescue and treatment of the injured.
Devastating Visuals Pouring in From Accident Site
UP CM Expresses Condolences
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, expressed his condolences for the victims of the train mishap. He said, "I want to express my condolences to those who lost their family members in the Odisha rail tragedy and hope for the speedy recovery of those injured."
Railway Ministry Issues Helpline Numbers
Will Ensure 'Thorough Investigation': Railway Minister
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Saturday, "The rescue operation has been completed and restoration work has started. We will thoroughly investigate this incident and will ensure such incidents don't happen in future."
'Increase Ex-Gratia Amount': Former Railway Minister
Former railway minister and Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal was on Saturday quoted by ANI as saying, "This is a tragic incident that has happened. The govt should increase the amount of compensation for those who died or are injured. A high-level investigation should be conducted into the incident."
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Reaches Balasore
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reached Odisha's Balasore to take stock of the situation following the train mishap.
Train Carrying Relatives Of Injured To Reach Balasore Today
V Ponram, SP, Tamil Nadu police, told ANI, "We've opened 2 control rooms. Our objective is to facilitate the people. We're in touch with Odisha control room and Railways officials. A train will leave in the evening carrying relatives of the injured to the accident site."
PM Modi Leaves for Odisha
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has left for Odisha's Balasore to review the situation following the train mishap in which 288 people lost their lives on Friday evening, according to the PMO.
'Heartfelt Condolences to Victims': Japanese PM
Expressing condolences over the train mishap in Balasore, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida said, "I am deeply saddened by the news of the loss of many precious lives and the injuries in the train accident in the State of Odisha. On behalf of the Government of Japan and people, I would like to express our heartfelt condolences to those who lost their lives and their bereaved families. I also pray for the speedy recovery of those who were injured."
Over 300 Units of Blood Collected, Donations to CM & PM Relief Funds: How Locals Are Helping
Dr Jayant Panda, SCB Medical College, Cuttack, appreciating how locals have come forward to help the victims, told ANI, "There is a very huge response from the youth. Hundreds of people donated blood. More than 3000 units of blood collected since last night in Cuttack, Balasore and Bhadrak. We've also donated to CM and PM relief funds."
'Biggest Train Accident of This Century,' Says Mamata; Announces Ex-Gratia
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, after taking stock of the situation at Balasore, said, "We will provide Rs 5 Lakhs each to the people of our state and cooperate and work with the Railways and Odisha Government until the work is complete. We sent 40 ambulances yesterday and 70 today. 40 of our doctors have reached here and they are working."
She added, "This is the biggest train accident of this century, toll may rise. I feel there has been a co-ordination gap in Railways."
Where Was Anti-Collision Device, Asks Congress Leader
Former MoS Railways and Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury told ANI "I have always urged that the basic infrastructure should be given priority. Due to bullet trains, more investment is made into it. They keep talking about Vande Bharat but every day 25 lakh people travel on trains. If attention is not paid to it, it is the biggest mistake. Tall claims are made about anti-collision devices but where is it? Three trains met with the accident."
Sonia Gandhi Expresses Condolence For Victims
Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, expressing condolences, said on Saturday, "I am most pained and anguished by the terrible train disaster in Odisha. I extend my deepest sympathy and condolences to all the bereaved families."
Farooq Abdullah Demands Investigation In Train Crash
National Conference President Farooq Abdullah, demanding investigation into the train crash, said on Saturday, "Recently, the honourable railway minister announced that they have now got a major device whereby these accidents will not take place. I think this must be investigated whether that device was there and if it was, why was it not functioning? It is a major disaster that has not occurred for a long time in the country. I think we all want to know what happened."
Turkey Extends Condolences To Victims
'We Share Your Grief': Putin to Indian Prez, PM
Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his condolences to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying, “We share the grief of those who lost their loved ones in this tragic accident and wish a speedy recovery for those injured."
Odisha Chief Sec, Govt Officials, TN Police Hold Meeting
A meeting between Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena, along with State Government officials, and Tamil Nadu Police officials is underway at the Special Relief Commissioner's office, reported ANI.
'Heartfelt Condolences': Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif
"Deeply saddened by the loss of hundreds of lives in a train accident in India. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in this tragedy. Prayers for speedy recovery of the injured," Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a tweet.
Siddaramaiah Deputes Team For Kannadigas
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has deputed a team to ensure the safety of Kannadigas in the train mishap.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also deputed Lok Sabha Leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and AICC In-Charge A Chella Kumar to immediately visit the train crash site in Odisha.
'Europe Mourns With You': EU President
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Saturday said, "I express my deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the Odisha train accident and wish a speedy recovery to the injured. The people of India are in our thoughts in this time of sorrow. Europe mourns with you."
Odisha Guv Meets Injured Passengers
Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal met the injured passengers at Community Health Centre in Soro, Balasore and asked the doctors to ensure proper treatment for them.
'Will Fight Successfully With PM, CM's Help': Odisha Guv
Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal told ANI, "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."
'Major Negligence': Lalu Prasad Yadav
RJD chief & former Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav was quoted by ANI as saying, "The manner in which they showed negligence & didn't show alertness led to such a large number of casualties. There should be a high-level inquiry and action should be taken against those responsible for it. There was major negligence, they have destroyed Railways."
AAP's Sanjay Singh Says No Improvement in Railways Visible
“It is visible that there is no improvement in trains and railway tracks meant for the common people,” says AAP leader Sanjay Singh.
PM Modi Reaches Balasore
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at the site of the Balasore accident to take stock of the situation.
'Govt Will Leave No Stone Unturned': Modi
After taking stock of the situation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "It's a painful incident. Government will leave no stone unturned for the treatment of those injured. It's a serious incident, instructions issued for probe from every angle and those found guilty will be punished stringently," quoted news agency ANI.
'We Demand Detailed Probe': Sharad Pawar
"This is a very unfortunate incident. Everyone's demand is to conduct a detailed probe into the accident case," said Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar.
'Monitor Abnormal Surge in Airfares': MoCA
In the view of the accident, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has send an advisory to airlines to monitor any abnormal surge in airfares to and from Bhubaneswar and other airports of Odisha, reported news agency ANI.
"Any cancellation and rescheduling of flights due to the incident may be done without penal charges," MoCA added.
58 Trains Cancelled
"So far, a total of 58 trains stand cancelled, 81 were diverted & 10 were terminated. Work is underway in full swing, & restoration will be done soon; first, we will complete the restoration of the downline," said Railways spokesperson Amitabh Sharma.