A tragic accident occurred in Odisha, India, resulting in the deadliest rail incident in the country in over ten years. According to government officials, at least 288 people lost their lives, and around 900 individuals were injured when two passenger trains collided.
Authorities fear that the death toll may rise further. So far, 207 bodies have been recovered, as stated by Sudhanshu Sarangi, the director general of the fire department in Odisha. Distressing images from the scene showed rescue workers searching the wreckage for survivors. Videos shared on social media depicted the arrival of ambulances and people being rescued from the overturned train carriages.
Eyewitnesses described a devastating scene, with blood, broken limbs, and people in distress. In a show of solidarity, hundreds of young people queued outside a government hospital in Odisha to donate blood.
Rescue teams from Bhubaneswar in Odisha and Kolkata in West Bengal have been deployed, according to Ashwini Vaishnaw, the federal Minister for Railways. The National Disaster Response Force has dispatched three teams to the accident site, with six more teams being mobilized.
The collision occurred at around 7 pm local time when the Howrah Superfast Express, traveling from Bangalore to Howrah, derailed and collided with the Coromandel Express, running from Kolkata to Chennai.
The top priority for authorities is to transfer the injured individuals to hospitals, as stated by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Rescue operations are underway, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and assured that all possible assistance would be provided to those affected.
It is a devastating incident that has caused immense loss of life and injuries, and efforts are focused on providing aid, medical attention, and support to the affected individuals and their families.
