Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes stock of the situation at the site of the accident involving Coromandel Express, Bengaluru-Howrah Express and a goods train, in Balasore district, Saturday, June 3, 2023. PTI
New Delhi, June 3
PM Modi on Saturday reached site in Odisha where a tragic triple train accident took place last night. The mishap claimed at least 288 lives and left as many as 900 injured.
Modi spoke to the press after inspecting the site of one of the country's worst train disasters at Bahanaga in Odisha's Balasore district. He also met victims of the mishap at Balasore Hospital.
“Stringent action will be taken against those found guilty in the train accident incident. No one will be spared,” Modi said.
Prime Minister also promised, “We will give the best possible treatment to those injured in this tragedy”.
"I am grateful to local people for all help given to train accident victims," Modi said.
Speaking of the accident he said, "I do not have words to express the pain. Let Almighty give us strength to overcome this situation".
The train crash in Odisha on Friday involved the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and a goods train.
The data shows this was one of the deadliest accidents since independence.
Here is a look at other deadliest train crashes:
*It was on June 6, 1981 that India recorded its worst train accident which occurred in Bihar. A train fell into the Bagmati river while crossing a bridge, killing more than 750 people.
*On August 20, 1995, the Purushottam Express collided with the stationary Kalindi Express near Firozabad. The official death toll was 305.
*On November 26, 1998, the Jammu Tawi–Sealdah Express collided with three derailed coaches of the Frontier Golden Temple Mail in Khanna in Punjab, killing 212 people.
*August 2, 1999: The Gaisal train disaster occurred when the Brahmaputra Mail crashed into the stationary Avadh Assam Express at Gaisal station in North Frontier Railway's Katihar division, killing more than 285 people and injuring over 300. Many of the victims were Army, BSF or CRPF personnel.
*November 20, 2016: The Pukhrayan train derailment occurred when 14 coaches of the Indore–Rajendra Nagar Express derailed at Pukhrayan, approximately 60 km from Kanpur, killing 152 people and injuring 260.
*September 9, 2002: The Rafiganj train wreck occurred when the Howrah Rajdhani Express derailed over a bridge on the Dhave river in Rafiganj, killing more than 140 people. Terrorist sabotage was blamed for the incident.
*December 23, 1964: The Pamban-Dhanuskodi passenger train was washed away by the Rameswaram cyclone, killing over 126 passengers.
*May 28, 2010: The Jnaneswari Express train derailment -- The Mumbai-bound train had derailed near Jhargram and was then hit by an oncoming goods train, leading to the death of 148 passengers.
Inputs from agencies
16:30 03 Jun
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the Coromandel Express train involved in a horrific rail tragedy in Odisha on Friday entered the loop line and crashed into a goods train parked there instead of the main line just ahead of the Bahanagar Bazar station, a source said. Read more
15:59 03 Jun
PM Narendra Modi lands at Balasore in an IAF helicopter to visit the train accident site.
14:44 03 Jun
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said the horrific train accident in Odisha's Balasore district is the “biggest of the century” and a proper investigation is needed to get to the truth.
Banerjee, who was the railway minister twice, flew to the accident site on Saturday afternoon to take stock of rescue operations.
13:29 03 Jun
Huge cranes and bulldozers have been brought in to raise the last coach, which rescuers had not been able to reach as yet in operations to pull out survivors and the dead from the mangled steel of three trains that derailed one on top of another in a horrific sequence. Officials said this coach was buried as another passenger wagon jumped rail on top of it. The death toll is expected to jump once this wagon is brought up.
13:29 03 Jun
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday deputed a team led by Labour Minister Santosh Lad to ensure the safety of people from the state in the aftermath of the Odisha train accident.
He sought reports from the Chief Secretary and discussed with the officers concerned by directing them to visit the spot to ensure the safety of people from the state, and provide all necessary support to them, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said in a release.
A team headed by Minister Lad, accompanied by Manoj Rajan, Commissioner, Disaster Management and other officers has already left for Balasore where the accident occurred, it said.
12:16 03 Jun
The US, Russia and the UN were among those who condoled the deadly triple-train crash. US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti offered condolences to the families of victims. He stated that the US stands with India in this time of grief.
"Deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the tragic train derailment in Odisha. Speedy recovery to the injured," said Russia’s ambassador Denis Alipov.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani tweeted his condolences and said a prayer for the victims with the hope that those still trapped will be rescued.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen offered her condolences.
Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' also expressed grief.
Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, UK MP, said he was “deeply saddened to learn about the tragic rail crash in #Odisha. My heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims. You are in our thoughts and prayers’’.
11:24 03 Jun
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will go to Odisha on Saturday. He will then visit the hospital in Cuttack where many of the injured are being treated. The PM has also convened a high-level meeting to review the relief and rescue operations.
11:00 03 Jun
Huge cranes and bulldozers have been brought in to raise a coach which has been buried by the impact of another wagon falling on as rescue workers wield gas torches and electric cutters to pull out survivors and the dead from the mangled steel of three trains that derailed one on top of another in a horrific sequence.
10:48 03 Jun
#WATCH | Aerial visuals from ANI’s drone camera show the extent of damage at the spot of the #BalasoreTrainAccident in Odisha. pic.twitter.com/8rf5E6qbQV
— ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2023
10:47 03 Jun
#WATCH | Odisha | Visuals from Balasore Medical College and Hospital where some of the people injured in #BalasoreTrainAccident have been admitted.
— ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2023
All the injured have been admitted to various hospitals in the state. pic.twitter.com/jx3yxT0lMt
10:46 03 Jun
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has convened a meeting to review the situation following the Odisha train accident.
10:36 03 Jun
UN General Assembly President Csaba Korosi has expressed condolences to the families and the Government of India. “I'm deeply saddened to hear the news of the train crash in Odisha, India. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and with the emergency services. Heartfelt condolences to the people and the Government of India,” Korosi, the president of the 77th session of the General Assembly tweeted.
08:57 03 Jun
Wielding gas torches and electric cutters, rescuers worked through the night to pull out survivors and the dead from the mangled steel of the three trains that derailed one on top of another in a horrific sequence. Officials in Bhubaneswar said 200 ambulances, 50 buses and 45 mobile health units besides 1,200 personnel were working at the accident site. The bodies were being taken to the hospitals in all kinds of vehicles, including tractors.
08:55 03 Jun
Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday visited the train accident site in Balasore. Vaishnaw said their focus is on rescue and relief operations.
08:37 03 Jun
After the horrific train accident, people queued up in Balasore to donate blood for the injured.
08:35 03 Jun
Opposition party leaders, while expressing condolences over the death of more than 200 passengers in the Odisha train accident, have raised questions about the signalling system of the railways which purportedly led to the crash.
Tribune Shorts
Most Read In 24 Hours
Don't Miss
View All
Top News
There is degree of prejudice: MEA on Trudeau's allegations against India on killing of Khalistani separatist
Said Indian high commission in Canada are temporarily unable...
India suspends visa services in Canada till further notice
Ottawa rejects Indian travel advisory, says Canada one of th...
Khalistan-linked gangster Sukha Duneke killed in inter-gang rivalry in Canada
Sukhdool Singh alias Sukha Duneke, a gangster who escaped to...
Hindu-Canadians are soft targets for Pannun, warns Indo-Canadian MP
Hindu body in Canada asks Public Safety Minister to treat Pa...
Canada rejects India's travel advisory amid escalating diplomatic row; calls for calm
India on Wednesday advised all its citizens living in Canada...
