Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Odisha this afternoon. He will visit the massive train accident spot and also hospitals to interact with injured persons.
The tragedy of three trains including two express trains at Bahanaga station in Odisha’s Balasore district on Friday evening has left at least 238 dead and over 900 injured.
Shalimar- Chennai Coromandel Superfast Express, Sir M Visveswarya Terminal- Howrah Superfast Express and a goods train stationed at Bahanaga Bazar Station involved in the massive train tragedy. At least 15 coaches of two express trains derailed and were damaged in the mishap. Some coaches of the express train ramps into the goods trains, three to four coaches completely damaged in the accident.
Soon after the incident, local people first rushed to the spot and rescued some passengers. As soon as the news flashed out, the entire State Administration came to action and carried out rescue operations since yesterday evening.
As per direction of Chief Minister, Revenue Minister Pramila Mallick rushed to the spot to supervise the rescue operation.
Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena is monitoring the situation minute by minute in the State Emergency Operation Center, Rajiv Bhawan Bhubaneswar.
ACS Revenue & Disaster Management and SRC Satyabrata Sahu along with other senior officers are at the spot. They stayed there overnight and supervised the rescue operation.
“Rescue operation is going on in two coaches, of which one is a general coach. As the coaches have been overturned and suffered massive damage, we found it difficult to conduct the rescue operation,” Chief Secretary Shri Jena said.
The technical team of railways opined that it will not be possible to remove the coaches through cranes. So, the coaches are being cut down to remove the trapped passengers, he said, adding, it will take another two to three hours to complete the rescue operation.
No new passengers have been admitted to the local hospitals. The injury figure remained around 900, Jena said.
On casualties, the Chief Secretary said, “As per information received from Balasore Collector, the death toll remained 238. The final figure will be clear in the next couple of hours. The entire team is working in autopsy and identification of dead bodies.”
Following autopsy, identification and establishment of relation, bodies are being handed over to the family members of the deceased, he said.
“The unidentified bodies will be preserved for 72 hours. If no one will claim the bodies, we will take action as per medical procedures,” Jena added.
Seven NDRF teams, 5 ODRAF units and 24 Fire Services & Emergency Units engaged in rescue operations.
More than 200 Ambulances engaged in shifting to hospitals and over100 medical teams with paramedical staff along with medicines mobilized to the accident site for medical treatment, officials said.
Food and drinking water arranged for stranded passengers at various stations and 30 buses deployed for movement of stranded passengers.
Around 900 injured persons shifted to hospitals at Soro, Balasore, Bhadrak & Cuttack.
Free medical treatments being provided to injured persons at government and private hospitals.
Showing humanity, the youths lined up throughout the night in the Balasore district headquarters hospital, Bhadrak district headquarter hospital to donate blood.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has also reached the accident site to review the situation and rescue operation.
Shri Patnaik has declared one-day state mourning. “In view of the tragic rail accident at Bahanaga, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik has ordered for State Mourning for a day. Hence no State celebration to take place on 3rd June throughout the State,” Odisha information and public relation department said.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reached at the tragic train accident spot in Odisha’s Balasore district this morning and took stock of the situation.
Speaking to reporters at the accident spot, Shri Vaishnaw said, “Our prime focus is on rescue and proper treatment of the injured persons, and dissemination of proper information of the passengers to their relatives.”
Restoration will begin after clearance from district administration. All machinery required for the restoration work have been kept ready at Soro, Balasore, he said.
A detailed high-level inquiry will be conducted and the rail safety commissioner will also do an independent inquiry, said the railways minister.
Asked about the reason behind the massive accident of three trains, he said, “The reason can be ascertained only after completion of the inquiry.”