Odisha train accident: Indian Army deployed to assist in rescue, evacuation

Indian Army has been deployed to assist in the evacuation and treatment of injured in the horrific train accident in Odisha's Balasore district. 

Indian Army said, “Army medical and engineering teams with ambulances & support services have been deployed from the Eastern Command. The teams have been routed from multiple bases so as to reach the place of the incident as early as possible”

Currently, 7 NDRF, 5 ODRAF (Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force) & 24 Fire Service Units, local police, and volunteers are working in search and rescue

NDRF DG Atul Karwal said, "It's a very tragic incident, it's a huge loss of lives. More than 300 NDFR rescuers - are working in coordination with SDRF & other agencies. This is the third such major incident in our history. The force with which the three trains collided with each other resulted in several coaches getting crushed & being in a mangled condition there. It is a challenge to cut through them & get inside to ensure that the live victims are not affected."

As per Railway Ministry's latest update, at least 238 people died while almost 650 people were injured in the accident. The injured have been admitted to hospitals in Balasore, Khantapara, Bhadrak, Soro and Gopalpur.

South Eastern Railway in a statement informed, “As per the information received till now, there are 238 casualties. Around 650 injured passengers have been taken to the Hospitals of Gopalpur, Khantapara, Balasore, Bhadrak and Soro.”

“Hon’ble Minister for Railways has reached the spot and supervising the rescue operation. General Manager, South Eastern Railway and other principal officers are also at the site,” the statement added. 

The incident occurred on Friday when several coaches of the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express derailed and fell onto the adjacent tracks. The Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express then collided with these coaches, causing its own coaches to capsize. Shortly afterwards, a goods train also collided with these derailed coaches.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that the ministry will conduct a high-level inquiry into the tragic accident. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Vaishnaw said, "A detailed high-level inquiry will be conducted and the rail safety commissioner will also do an independent inquiry,"