Bhubaneswar: The death toll in one of the country’s deadliest rail accidents rose to 233, with more mournful news coming in as the day began.
Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena took to Twitter to inform about the toll: Death toll rises to 233 in the Balasore Train Accident.
At around 4 am in on Saturday the numbers were (as per the information shared by the Chief Secretary):
“Death toll in the train accident increasing. Latest report from @SRC_Odisha from the accident site puts the figure at 207. No of Injured has been about 900.”
The tragedy occurred on Friday evening, in which 17 coaches of two express trains, Coromandel Express and SMVT-Howrah Super Fast Express, derailed.
Odisha Fire Service Director General, Sudhanshu Sarangi, who is at the accident spot monitoring the rescue operations.
“The rescue operation is almost complete. Those trapped within the coaches have been rescued and admitted to hospitals. We are now trying to remove the coaches to see whether any passenger is trapped under them,” he added.
“Cranes have been engaged to pull up the coaches. We have to see if any body is lying under the overturned coaches,” Sarangi said.
The injured persons have been admitted to different hospitals in the nearby areas. Jena also informed that rescue operations are going on in full swing.
“We hope that the rescue operation will be complete by Saturday morning,” he added.
NDRF, ODRAF, Odisha Fire Service along with several volunteer organisations are conducting the rescue operations.
More than 200 ambulances along with 30 buses have been pressed into service, the Chief Secretary said.
Balasore, Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj district SPs and Collectors along with several senior officials are at the spot to expedite the rescue operations, he added.
“Additional doctors have been mobilised and hospitals in the nearby areas have been kept on alert. We are trying our best to provide best treatment to the injured persons,” the Chief Secretary said.
“We pray to God that the people who are still trapped under the coaches remain alive,” he said.
He also said that various district collectors have been asked to provide necessary help to the passengers stranded in different stations due to diversion/cancellation of other trains.
(with inputes from IANS)
