The death toll from a horrific train crash in Odisha has risen to 233, while more than 900 people have been injured, according to the state’s chief secretary, Pradeep Jena.
The crash occurred on Friday evening near Bahanaga Bazar railway station in Balasore district, when two passenger trains and a freight train collided on the Howrah–Chennai Main Line.
The 12841 Coromandel Express (between Shalimar and MGR Chennai Central) derailed and hit a stationary freight train. Some of its coaches fell on the opposite track, where they were struck by the 12864 SMVT Bengaluru–Howrah SF Express (between SMVT Bengaluru and Howrah), which also derailed.
The accident is the deadliest rail disaster in India in decades. It has triggered a massive rescue operation involving more than 110 ambulances, four units of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), three units of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and accident relief trains.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his distress over the tragedy and spoke to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to take stock of the situation.
The Odisha authorities have declared a day of mourning on Sunday. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
