Catastrophic triple train collision in Odisha leaves 237 dead and 900+ injured. Coromandel Express, goods train, and Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express involved.
DESK – In a grim incident, a devastating triple train collision in Odisha has resulted in 237 fatalities and over 900 injuries.
The dreadful accident involved the Coromandel Express, a goods train, and the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express.
The accident transpired near Bahnaga station in Balasore, Odisha when the Coromandel Express, en route from Chennai to Shalimar station in West Bengal, collided with a goods train around 7.20 PM. The impact was so severe that the Coromandel Express derailed, and many of its coaches landed on the goods train.
Indian Railways confirmed that the Coromandel Express, train number 12841, derailed near Bahnaga Bazar railway station in the Kharagpur division at 8.30 PM. In a grim turn of events, several coaches of the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express also derailed at Bahanaga, fell onto another track, and collided with the Coromandel Express, leading to the massive pileup and casualties.
The movement of trains in both directions has been affected, and rescue operations are underway. The Odisha government is aiding the efforts, providing generators and lights at the accident site, with multiple teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) deployed to assist.
Passenger testimonies recount a horrific scene of chaos and panic. Many were asleep at the time of the collision and woke up to overturned coaches and severe injuries among passengers. The involvement of two passenger trains and the darkness have compounded the difficulties in the rescue campaign.
