Odisha Train Accident: 17 Coaches Derailed and Severely Damaged; Rescue Operation Completed

Following a devastating three-way train accident in Odisha's Balasore district, the Indian Railways and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have provided contrasting timelines for the completion of rescue operations. The tragic incident, considered the country's fourth deadliest train mishap, has claimed the lives of hundreds of people and left nearly a thousand travelers injured.

Railways Spokesperson Amitabh Sharma has said that the rescue operation has been completed. "Now we are starting the restoration work. Kawach was not available on this route."

However, a NDRF official told ANI that rescue operation at the site Of the train Accident is still continuing.

Narendra Singh Bundela, IG operation, NDRF said,"Operation is still continuing. So far state govt has announced 238 dead and more than 900 injured. Hopefully, by today evening, we should be able to close the operation. NDRF has nine teams there - seven from Odisha and two from West Bengal. Almost all the live victims have been sent to hospital so nine teams are sufficient.''

He also said that 17 coaches were derailed and severely damaged in the Balasore train accident. "The sequence of events will be clear after inquiry," he added.
"Nine teams have been deployed (at the accident site). All bogies which are affected are being searched thoroughly. A few bogies, which were tilted, are being lifted to see if any injured or dead body is there," said NDRF DIG Manoj Yadav.

Huge cranes and bulldozers were brought in to raise the mangled coaches that turned to be a huge heap of steel boxes. Rescue workers wielded gas torches and electric cutters to pull out the dead bodies and hunt for the survivors.

At least 288 people were killed and over 900 injured in the train crash involving the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and a goods train. Rescuers worked throughout the night to pull out survivors and the deceased from the mangled steel of the three trains that derailed one on top of another in a horrific sequence.

The train crash, the fourth deadliest in India according to available records, happened near the Bahanaga Baazar station in Balasore district, about 250 km south of Kolkata and 170 km north of Bhubaneswar, around 7 pm on Friday, prompting the Railway Ministry to order a probe.