Death Toll Rises More Than 288 In Indian Train Multiple Collision

More than 288 people have been killed and 1000 others injured in the late Friday evening multiple train accident in the Indian state of Odisha.

Two passenger trains and a goods train collided in Balasore, leaving at least 288 people dead and over 1000 injured, according to Sudhanshu Sarangi, director general of Odisha Fire Services.

The accident considered as the world deadliest train crash in the recent two decades involved 3 trains; the 12841 Coromandel Express, the 12864 SMVT Bengaluru–Howrah SF Express, and a goods train.

Residents in Odisha posted video of large numbers of the train dead victims on the floor at a mortuary or holding room, said, to be more than 288 in numbers.

The three trains, Bengalur-Howrah Superfast Express, Shalima-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and a goods train collided at Bahanaga station in the Balasore district of Odisha.

The triple crash is the country’s deadliest rail accident in more than 20 years as wreckage debris was seen piled high at the crash site where some carriages had been tossed far from the tracks and others flipped over entirely.

Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on Saturday visited the accident site of where he reviewed the ongoing relief and rescue operation works.

He was seen interacting with local authorities, personnel from the disaster relief forces, railways officials and thereafter walked round the crashed site. He also visited the hospital to see the victims undergoing medical treatment as at the time of filing in this report.

On Friday evening the accident occurred, smashed train compartments were torn open leaving blood-stained holes in their sides. Stable survivors joined others to rescue those trapped inside the trains.

Rescue operation continued overnight till Saturday with the Indian military personnel called to support the rescue efforts just as carriages flipped over entirely in the crash late on Friday as the rescue team searched for survivors trapped in the mangled wreckage, with scores of bodies laid out under white sheets beside the tracks.

The cause of the train accident is yet to be officially stated as unconfirmed reports indicated that during the same time the tragic train accident, the Kanyakumari Express also tried to be derailed by track sabotage near Trichy by placing large tyres on track by miscreants. Vigilant Railway authorities were however said to be able to stop the sabotage.

Also, few days ago, the Alappuzha-Kannur Express was said to be targeted for arson, located only 100 meters away from a massive BPCL fuel storage tank. The intention, according to local media was to cause a huge blast from the fuel tank that could have flattened the entire area. Two months ago, miscreants was reported to attempt to carry out a similar attack on the same train but were apprehended.

Last year, on November 22, again, local media in Indian reported that disaster was averted after finding a confirmed terror incident done to “create optics, kill as many” by cracking open train tracks. Accordingly, Indian Intelligence was reportedly said to be able to avert the disaster for the Udaipur-Ahmedabad route.