More than 280 people are feared dead and more than 900 injured after 10-12 coaches of the Chennai-bound Coromandel express derailed and fell on an adjacent track in the path of another train from Yeshwanthpur to Howrah near Balasore in Odisha late last night. Scroll down for the latest updates!
A massive rescue operation is underway at the accident site in Bahanaga Bazar near Balasore to retrieve people trapped in the derailed coaches. This is considered one of the deadliest train crashes in India in recent times.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaisnav ordered for a high-level probe into the incident and announced an exgratia payment of Rs 1O lakh in case of death and Rs 2 lakh for the grievously injured and Rs 50,000 for those with minor injuries. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced a one-day state mourning due to the accident.
After reaching the accident spot in Balasore a short while ago, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the focus was on relief and rescue operations. “Restoration will begin after clearance from district administration,” he told a news agency.
