Indian sportspersons sent their condolences to the families of those who are impacted in one of the deadliest train crashes in the last few years. More than 350 people suffered injuries in the accident involving the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and a goods train.
Senior India cricketer Shikhar Dhawan tweeted, “My deepest condolences to the families affected by the tragic train accident in Odisha. My prayers are with bereaved families and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.”
Former India cricketer and Rajya Sabha MP, Harbhajan Singh tweeted, “Pained to know about railway accident in Odisha involving Coromandel express and another passenger train. Thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their near and dear ones. Appeal @RailMinIndia & Govt. of Odisha to rescue the passengers at the earliest.”
Bengal cricketer Manoj Tiwary tweeted, “Terribly shocked to hear about the train accident near Bahanaga railway station in Balasore, Odisha. Kindly check the emergency control room numbers on the tweet! Kindly share it. My prayers & condolences to the concerned families. Om Shanti.”
Local accounts claim that more than a hundred passengers have lost their lives in the crash and looking at the intensity of the collision the toll of dead might go up. Officials claimed several coaches of the 12864 Bengaluru-Howrah train travelling to Howrah derailed at Bahanaga Baazar, near Balasore and fell on adjacent tracks.
“These derailed coaches collided with 12841 Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and its coaches capsized too,” a senior official said.
A goods train was also involved in the accident as the coaches of the Coromandel Express hit its wagons after getting derailed, the official said. The accident happened around 7 pm.
More than 350 people have been admitted to different hospitals across the district and all private and government hospitals have been put on alert in the nearby districts, including state capital Bhubaneswar.
Officials claimed that they have brought out the bodies of 50 passengers from under the overturned coaches and several people were trapped under the derailed coaches.
The locals were assisting emergency services personnel to rescue them, but darkness was hindering the operation. The local villagers were the first to reach the site and try and help the passengers, pulling out the wounded and the dead from bogies.
Railway Helpline Numbers
Four units of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), three units of NDRF and 60 ambulances were working to rescue the injured, officials said. The Odisha government has issued a helpline 06782-262286. The railway helplines are 033-26382217 (Howrah), 8972073925 (Kharagpur), 8249591559 (Balasore) and 044- 25330952 (Chennai).