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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called a meeting to review the situation in the wake of the deadly triple train accident in Balasore, Odisha. According to reports, PM Modi is closely monitoring the situation, while Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav has already visited the accident site to take stock of the relief and rescue operations. The Railway Minister has already ordered a high-level inquiry into the accident, in which around 288 people have lost their lives while over 900 are said to be injured. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also visited the accident site to take stock of the situation.
The accident took place yesterday at around 7.20 pm when the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express derailed and fell on the track next to the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express. This resulted in a collision and derailment of the Coromandel Express which hit a goods train on the third track.
Officials in Bhubaneswar said 200 ambulances, 50 buses and 45 mobile health units besides 1,200 personnel were working at the accident site. The rescue work is still going on.
Odisha CM Patnaik has also announced one day state mourning today in view of the train accident. Indian Railways has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased, Rs 2 lakh for the seriously injured and Rs 50,000 for those with minor injuries. PM Narendra Modi also expressed grief over the accident and announced an additional ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured from the PM’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
Railway Board Executive Director Amitabh Sharma said that till now more than 100 people have claimed the ex-gratia amount. “For this, counters have been set up at three places – Balasore, Soro and Bahanaga Bazar… So far 48 trains have been cancelled, 39 diverted and 10 diverted,” he said.
Odisha government issued helpline 06782-262286. Railway helplines are 033-26382217 (Howrah), 8972073925 (Kharagpur), 8249591559 (Balasore) and 044- 25330952 (Chennai).
