Coromandel Express Accident: At Least 288 Killed, 1,000 Injured In Triple Train Crash

Ministry of Railways opened helpdesks at various railway stations after the Coromandel train accident and shared helpline numbers for the same.

• Howrah helpline number: 033-26382217

• Kharagpur helpline number: 8972073925, 9332392339

• Balasore helpline number: 8249591559, 7978418322

• Shalimar helpline number: 9903370746

Describing the Odisha train tragedy as 'deeply distressing', industrialist Gautam Adani on Sunday offered to take responsibility for the school education of the children who lost their parents in the worst train accident in decades.

The chairperson of the Adani Group said in his tweet, "We are all deeply distressed by the Odisha train accident. We have decided that the Adani Group will take responsibility for the school education of the innocent people who have lost their parents in this accident."

"It is the joint responsibility of all of us to provide strength to the victims and their families and a better tomorrow to the children," he said in the tweet.

Disclaimer: AMG Media Networks Ltd., a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Ltd., holds 49% stake in Quintillion Business Media Ltd., the owner of BQ Prime.

A public interest litigation has been filed in the Supreme Court against the backdrop of India’s deadliest train crash in nearly three decades. The PIL calls for setting up an expert commission headed by a retired Supreme Court judge. The expert panel should analyse and review the current risks and safety parameters in the railway system and suggest systematic safety modifications for strengthening railway safety mechanisms, it said.

It has also been requested that the expert commission conclude its probe into the Odisha train crash and submit its report to the apex court within two months.

The petition has sought guidelines to be issued for the implementation of an Automatic Train Protection System called ‘Kavach’ with immediate effect to ensure public safety.

Kavach is an SOS feature to control trains in emergency situations. By automatically applying brakes when necessary, the system ensures better control over train speed and prevents potential accidents.

The root cause of the three-train crash in Odisha's Balasore district has been identified and the Railways is aiming to restore normal services on the affected tracks by Wednesday, according to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

Talking to reporters at the accident site, he said the issue is of electric point machine, a vital device for railway signalling, and electronic interlocking.

The change that was made to electronic interlocking which led to the accident has been identified, Vaishnaw said while denying that the incident had anything to do with the anti-collision system 'Kavach'.

The restoration work was being carried out on a war footing and tracks have already been laid on one of the main lines, he said.

Vaishnaw said the railway aims to complete restoration work on tracks by Wednesday. The work on repairing tracks and overhead electric lines is in progress. Earlier in the day, the railway tracks had been cleared of wrecked coaches.

"We have mobilised all resources. I also want to say that Kavach has nothing to do with the accident. This accident occurred due to changes to the electronic interlocking system. The remarks of (West Bengal chief minister) Mamata Banerjee is not true," Vaishnaw said.

'The setting of the point machine was changed. How and why it was done will be revealed in the probe report,' he said.

An electric point machine is a vital device for railway signalling for quick operation and locking of point switches and plays an important role in the safe running of trains. Failure of these machines severely affects train movement and deficiencies at the time of installation can result in unsafe conditions.

The preliminary probe report, a copy of which is with PTI, said the signal was given and taken off for the up main line for train number 12841 (Coromandel Express). The train entered the loop line, dashed with the goods train and derailed. In the meantime, train number 12864 (Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express) passed through the down main line and two of its coaches derailed and capsized, the report said.

Of the 127 people hailing from Tamil Nadu who had reserved tickets in Coromandel Express, contact could not be established with eight people and the rest were safe, the state government said on Sunday.

As per information received so far on the train accident, no person from Tamil Nadu was killed or injured warranting treatment.

Based on the information on passengers provided by the Southern Railway, a list of 127 Tamil Nadu people—who had furnished residential addresses in Tamil Nadu and those who had Tamil names—was prepared. They had reserved tickets on the Chennai-bound Coromandel Express.

The State Emergency Operation Centre got in touch them and 119 were safe and eight others could not be contacted as their contact details, including mobile numbers were unavailable, an official release said.

Of the eight persons, two were women and six men and relatives or friends who had information on them may convey it to the SEOC. Toll free number is 1070 and 9445869843 is the mobile number.

Narakanigopi (34), Karthik (19), Raghunath (21), Meena (66), A Jagadeesan (47), Kamal (26), Kalpana (19) and Arun (21) were the eight persons with whom contact could not be established

National insurer LIC on Saturday announced many relaxations for the claim settlement process for the victims of the Balasore train tragedy.

The accident involving two passenger trains and a stationary goods train has led to the loss of life of at least 288 people so far and left over 1,100 injured. In a late evening statement, LIC chairman Siddhartha Mohanty announced a slew of relaxations to the claim settlement process for the kin of the victims.

"We are deeply saddened by the tragic train accident in Balasore, Odisha on Friday. LIC is committed to supporting those affected and will expedite claim settlements to provide financial relief," Mohanty was quoted as saying in the statement.

The Corporation also announced many concessions to mitigate the hardships of the claimants of LIC policies and also of the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana. It said in lieu of registered death certificates, a list of casualties published by the Railways, police or any state or Central authorities will be accepted as proof of death.

The Corporation has also set up a special help desk and a call centre number (022-68276827) at the divisional and branch levels to respond to claim-related queries and for providing assistance to claimants.

All efforts will be taken to ensure that the claimants are reached out and claims are settled expeditiously to the affected families, the statement said.

Around 48 trains were cancelled, mostly in the Southern and South Eastern Railway Zones, while 39 were diverted and 10 short-terminated following the three-train accident in Odisha's Balasore on Friday in which 288 people were killed.

According to the latest data released by the two zones, the South Eastern Railway cancelled trains such as the Chennai-Howrah Mail, the Darbhanga-Kanniyakumari Express and the Kamakhya-LTT Express journey commencing o­n June 3. It has also cancelled the Patna-Puri Special train with journey commencing on June 4. The railways has also short-terminated 10 trains.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said strong action would be taken against anyone found guilty in the train crash in Odisha that killed 288 people.

Speaking to reporters after visiting the accident site and meeting the injured persons at a hospital in Balasore district, Modi said he was unable to find words to express his pain.

"The government has taken the incident very seriously. No one would be spared and strong action would be taken against those found guilty in this mishap," he said.

"Instructions have been given to ensure proper and speedy investigation of the tragedy," he added.

The prime minister said that it was not possible to bring back those killed in the incident, but the government stands solidly behind their families.

"No stone will be left unturned to provide all possible medical help to those injured," he said.

Envoys and missions of several countries condoled the loss of lives in the tragic train accident in Odisha and expressed solidarity with India.

The accident involving three trains in Odisha's Balasore district killed at least 288 people and injured 803, in one of the worst railway tragedies in the country.

Russian envoy to India Denis Alipov also expressed condolences to the families of the victims of the tragic train derailment and wished speedy recovery to the injured.

In a tweet, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti said, "On behalf of the US Mission in India, I extend our deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the tragic train accident in Balasore."

"We stand with India and the people of Odisha in this time of grief," he said.

Japanese envoy to India Hiroshi Suzuki said he was deeply saddened by the tragic losses caused by the railway accident in Odisha. 

In a tweet, the Chinese Embassy said, "Our deep condolences to the victims and heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved families and the injured in #BalasoreTrainAccident. Wish the injured recover soon."

Singapore High Commissioner Simon Wong also expressed deep shock over the accident and said he was saddened by the train tragedy. "Our thoughts are with the families of the bereaved and injured," he said.

Israeli envoy to India Naor Gilon said also grieved the accident victims.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Saturday asked airlines to monitor and take necessary action in case of any abnormal surge in airfares to and from Bhubaneswar, in view of the train accident in the state.

Besides, the ministry said that any cancellation and rescheduling on flights due to the incident may be done without penal charges.

The ministry has sent out an advisory to the airlines in this regard.

"In view of the unfortunate accident in Odisha, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has advised all airlines to monitor any abnormal surge in airfares to and from Bhubaneswar and other airports of the State and take necessary action regarding the same," it said in a statement.

At least 288 people have died in one of the worst accidents involving three trains that happened at Balasore in Odisha on Friday night.

Source: PTI

Here is a look at other such deadliest train crashes:

June 6, 1981: India recorded its worst train accident that occurred in Bihar. A train fell into the Bagmati river while crossing a bridge, killing more than 750 people.

August 20, 1995: Purushottam Express collided with the stationary Kalindi Express near Firozabad in Uttar Pradesh. The official death toll was around 305.

August 2, 1999: The Gaisal train disaster occurred when 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 26, 1998: Jammu Tawi-Sealdah Express collided with three derailed coaches of Frontier Golden Temple Mail in Punjab's Khanna, killing 212 people.

November 20, 2016: The Pukhrayan train derailment occurred when 14 coaches of Indore-Rajendra Nagar Express derailed at Pukhrayan, approximately 60 km from Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, killing 152 people and injuring 260.

May 28, 2010: Jnaneswari Express derailment -- the Mumbai-bound train derailed near Jhargram in West Bengal and was then hit by an oncoming goods train, killing 148 passengers.

September 9, 2002: The Rafiganj train wreck occurred when Howrah Rajdhani Express derailed over a bridge on the Dhave river in Bihar's 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 on board.

Source: PTI

In view of the train accident in Balasore district of Odisha, the North Western Railway has issued helpline numbers for the convenience of passengers. A spokesperson said that passengers or general public can get related information on numbers 0141-2725806 and 0141-2725804.

Source: PTI

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday demanded an inquiry into the three-train accident in Balasore in Odisha that killed more than 260 persons and injured nearly 1,000 a day earlier.

Asked about demands for the resignation of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on moral grounds post the tragedy, Pawar cited the example of then railway minister Lal Bahadur Shastri resigning after a train accident and asked 'those in power' to do what is 'appropriate'.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the triple train accident in Odisha's Balasore district was the “biggest of the century” and a proper investigation was needed to unravel the truth.

Banerjee, who has been the Railway minister twice, said the crash could have been averted had the anti-collision system was operational on this route. She claimed that the safety and security of passengers were being neglected by the Railways.

Source: PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inspected the triple train accident site at Bahanaga in Odisha’s Balasore district to take stock of relief and restoration operations.

Union Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan brief prime minister Narendra Modi about the Balasore train accident.

He also interacted with Odisha’s Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Pramila Mallik as well as the local police chief. Before reaching the accident site at Bahanaga Bazar, the PM had chaired a high-level meeting in New Delhi on the train accident.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that the Coromandel Express entered the loop line and crashed into a goods train parked there instead of the main line just ahead of the Bahanagar Bazar station, as per PTI.

The coaches of Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express capsized after crashing into the coaches of Coromandel Express that had scattered on the adjacent track.

While Coromandel Express was at a speed of 128 kmph, Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express was running at a speed of 116 kmph. The report has been submitted to the Railway Board, PTI said. However, none of these accounts was officially confirmed by the railways.

Source: PTI

BJP MP Varun Gandhi expresses his grief over the Balasore Train Accident; urges fellow parliamentarians to donate a part of their one-month salary to the bereaved families.

The train accident in Odisha's Balasore, which killed at least 261 people and injured nearly 1,000, has brought the railways' automatic train protection system 'Kavach' into focus.

The railways has said that 'Kavach' was not available on the route where the accident occurred on Friday evening. The system alerts when a loco pilot jumps a signal, which is among the leading causes of train collisions.

Kavach has been developed indigenously by the Research Design and Standards Organisation in association with three Indian vendors. The roll-out of Kavach is planned on the New Delhi-Howrah and New Delhi-Mumbai sections, with a target completion date of March 2024.

Source: PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaches Odisha at accident site.

"In view of tragic rail accident at Bahanaga, Hon'ble Chief Minister, Sri Naveen Patnaik has ordered for State Mourning for a day. Hence no State celebration to take place on 3rd June through out the State", I & PR Department, Odisha said in a tweet.

As many as 250 passengers who survived the train crash in Odisha are arriving on a special train, with the majority of them scheduled to disembark at Chennai, a railway official said to PTI.

Train number P/13671 has started from Bhadrak towards Chennai carrying the stranded passengers from the accident site at Bahanaga Bazaar

(Inputs from PTI)

"I am most pained and anguished by the terrible train disaster in Odisha. I extend my deepest sympathy and condolences to all the bereaved families", Sonia Gandhi, chairperson of Congress Parliamentary Party said.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee reached accident site.

"We will provide Rs 5 lakh each to the people of our state and cooperate and work with the Railways and Odisha government until the work is complete," says chief minister Mamata Banerjee said to ANI.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leaving for Orissa to review the triple train accident in Balasore, PMO said in a tweet.

The toll in the railway accident has risen to 261 and rescue operations at the site have been completed, a South Eastern Railway official told to PTI.

"The number of casualties in Friday's railway accident has increased to 261. Another 650 injured passengers are being treated at various hospitals in Odisha", South Eastern Railway spokesperson Aditya Chowdhury said to PTI.

(Inputs from PTI)

"The rescue operation has been completed and restoration work has started. We will investigate this incident and ensure such incidents do not happen in future" Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told to ANI.

The Indian Air Force has deployed Mi-17 helicopters for the evacuation, informed Eastern Command.

According to the Eastern Command, air force is coordinating the rescue efforts with the civil administration and Indian Railways.

(Inputs from PTI)

Two teams of doctors from AIIMS Bhubaneswar have been sent to Balasore and Cuttack to assist in relief operations, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said in a tweet.

Prime Minister Modi on Saturday will visit the site of the train accident in Odisha and also the Cuttack hospital where the injured are being treated.

He earlier held a meeting to review the situation amid the massive ongoing relief-and-rescue operation. Home Minister Amit Shah and senior government officials attended the meeting.

(Inputs from PTI)

"Operation is still continuing. So far state government has announced 238 dead and more than 900 injured", said to ANI.

Nine teams of NDRF, more than 300 rescuers - are working in coordination with SDRF & other agencies, NDRF DG Atul Karwal told ANI.

"I hope the rescue operation gets completed by today evening", he said.

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

(Inputs from PTI)

Prime Minister Modi has convened a meeting to review the situation in the triple train accident in Odisha, government sources said

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed distress on the train accident in Balasore.

"I’m sending my deepest condolences to those who lost loved ones, and I’m keeping the injured in my thoughts. At this difficult time, Canadians are standing with the people of India", Trudeau said in a tweet

The death toll rises to 238, South Eastern Railway said.

"As per the information received till now, there are 238 casualties. Around 650 injured passengers have been take to the Hospitals of Gopalpur, Khantapara, Balasore, Bhadrak and Soro", South Eastern Railways said.

Indian Army has been deployed to assist in the evacuation and treatment of injured citizens.

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.

Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik arrived at the Balasore accident site.

The railways has initiated a high-level probe into the train crash in Odisha to be headed by the commissioner of railway safety, South Eastern Circle.

The commissioner of railway safety works under the Ministry of Civil Aviation and investigates all such accidents. "A M Chowdhary, CRS, SE Circle, will inquire into the accident," a railway spokesperson said on Saturday.

Source: PTI

Death toll in the triple train crash in Odisha's Balasore rose to 233, Odisha Chief Secretary PK Jena tweeted. Around 900 people were injured in the one of deadliest accidents in India's rail history involving the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and a goods train, officials said on Saturday.

Several coaches of the 12864 Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, on the way to Howrah, derailed and fell on adjacent tracks. The derailed coaches collided with the 12841 Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and its coaches capsized too.

A goods train was also involved in the accident as some of the coaches of the Coromandel Express, which was heading to Chennai, hit its wagons after getting derailed.

Source: PTI

More than 120 dead bodies have been recovered so far and the death toll might go up, Sudhanshu Sarangi, DG, Odisha Fire Services told ANI.

Rescue of injured passengers has been completed, he said.

As of 11:45 p.m., around 600 passengers injured in the Coromandel Express accident have been shifted to different hospitals, Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena told ANI, adding that doctors have been deployed across hospitals and the accident spot to tend to the victims.

While the exact number of fatalities is yet to be ascertained, the status from District Magistrate mentioned that 55-60 dead bodies have been recovered, said Jena.

The Ministry of Railways at 11:50 p.m. confirmed two deaths. The authorities have immediately rushed to the spot to coordinate rescue and relief operations.

Passengers with minor injuries are being shifted to the Balasore, Khantapara, Soro and Gopalpur health units on priority.

At least 30 died and 400 have been injured in an accident involving three trains in Balasore, Odisha. This happens to be one of the most grievous train accidents in the country since 2012.

Here are the worst train accidents since 2012:

2012: Hampi Express collided with a goods train near Andhra Pradesh on May 22, resulting in 25 deaths and over 50 injuries.

2014: Gorakhdham Express crashed into a goods train near Khalilabad station on May 26. The mishap claimed 25 lives and injured 50.

2016: Indore-Patna Express derailed close to Kanpur on Nov. 20; at least 150 died passengers and another 150 were injured.

2017: Nine train coaches of Kaifiyat Express derailed near Auraiya, Uttar Pradesh on Aug. 23, injuring 70. On August 18, Puri-Haridwar Utkal Express derailed in Muzaffarnagar on Aug. 18, killing 23 people and injuring 60 others.

2022: Bikaner-Guwahati Express derailed in Alipurduar, West Bengal on Jan. 13, killing nine passengers dead and injuring 36 others.

PM Narendra Modi announced that next of kin of people killed in the Balasore train mishap will be given ex-gratia compensation of Rs 2 lakh from Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. The injured would be given Rs 50,000.

At least 30 people have died and 400 injured in the triple train accident in Balasore, Odisha, Sudhanshu Sarangi, Director General, Fire Services told NDTV.

It will take another 2-3 hours to complete rescue operations and the number of casualties can increase, Sarangi said.

Severely injured passengers are being taken to hospitals in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, Sarangi said. Distance is an issue, but everything is moving in a well-coordinated manner, he said.

Coromandel Express, en route to Chennai from Kolkata derailed near Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore, Odisha. Another train—Yashwantpur-Howrah Superfast—coming from the opposite direction side-dashed the derailed coaches and hit a goods train.

The exact number of injured and fatalities could not be ascertained at the moment as authorities are busy with rescue operations, Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena told reporters.

A passenger train on its way to Chennai from Kolkata rammed another train and then a goods train near Bahanaga Bazaar station in Balasore, Odisha.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced ex-gratia compensation for victims of the train accident in Balasore, Odisha. The government will pay Rs 10 lakh in case of death, Rs 2 lakh to those grievously injured, and Rs 50,000 to passengers with minor injuries.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that he is rushing to the site of the tragic train accident in Balasore, Odisha.

"My prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured and condolences to the bereaved families. Rescue teams mobilised from Bhubaneswar and Kolkata. NDRF, state government teams and Air Force also mobilised. Will take all hands required for the rescue operations," Vaishnaw said in a statement.

"Deeply anguished to know about the loss of lives in an unfortunate rail accident in Balasore, Odisha. My heart goes out to the bereaved families. I pray for the success of rescue operations and quick recovery of the injured," President Droupadi Murmu said in a tweet.

Speaking to reporters, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said he has been reviewing the situation of the Coromandel Express accident. He said will visit the spot early tomorrow morning to review the situation.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for speedy recovery of those injured in the Bahanaga Bazaar train accident.

"The NDRF team has already reached the accident site, and other teams are also rushing to join the rescue operation," tweeted Shah.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed distress on the train accident in Balasore, Odisha and assured that all possible assistance is being given to those affected.

"Spoke to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and took stock of the situation. Rescue ops are underway at the site," Modi said in a tweet.

Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jain issued a statement in the wake of the Coromandel train accident, listing the rescue and relief measures.

It will be too soon to predict fatalities as of now, Amitabh Sharma, PRO at Indian Railways told NDTV. There have been some severe injuries, Sharma confirmed.

Prima facie, a few coaches of Coromandel Express, en route to Chennai from Shalimar got derailed and hit Yashwantpur-Howrah express, coming from the opposite direction, causing 1-2 coaches of the latter to be derailed, Sharma said.

Accident relief train from Bhadrak has reached the spot, he said.

132 injured passengers have been shifted to community health centres in Soro and Gopalpur, and Khantapada primary health centre, ANI reported, quoting Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena.

While it cannot be ascertained as of now, several fatalities are feared in the train accident.

Expressing shock over the Coromandel train accident in Odisha's Balasore, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the state's emergency control room has been activated, and can be reached on 033- 22143526 and 033-22535185.

All out efforts for rescue, retrieval, aid and assistance initiated, she said in a tweet.

Rescue teams rushed 47 injured persons to Medical college, Balasore, ANI reported cited MD, Odisha State Disaster Management Authority.

While the number of casualties in the accident could not be ascertained right away, several passengers are feared to be injured in the Coromandel Express derailing, ANI reported.

Locals arrived at the scene of the train accident to rescue trapped passengers, showed visuals shared by ANI. Rescue teams and accident relief trains have been dispatched to the spot.

Coromandel Express train derailed near Bahanaga station in Odisha's Balasore, ANI reported, citing a statement by the CPRO of Southern Railway. Several coaches are reported to have derailed.

The accident happened around 7.20 p.m. near Bahanaga Bazar station when the train was on the way to Chennai Central station from Shalimar station near Kolkata, PTI reported citing officials.

Accident relief trains have been dispatched to the spot, a South Eastern Railway official said.

It was not immediately known how many people were injured in the accident. The state government directed the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force to assist in rescue operations.