Four coaches of the Coromandel Express derailed near Bahanaga railway station in the Balasore district of Odisha after colliding with a goods train. Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Odisha, along with senior officers Hemant Sharma, Balwant Singh, Arvind Agarwal, and DG Fire Services despatched to the spot to supervise arrangements at the accident site, according to ANI.
132 people have been reportedly injured so far and have been shifted to Soro CHC, Gopalpur CHC and Khantapada PHC, informed the Chief Secretary of Odisha.
Medical colleges and all hospitals in and around Balasore are on alert, informed the Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner of Odhisa. Besides these, the SCBMC along with 3 NDRF units, 4 ODRAF units and 60 ambulances have been mobilised.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her shock at the incident. Taking to Twitter, the TMC leader wrote, “Shocked to know that the Shalimar- Coromondel express, carrying passengers from West Bengal, collided with a goods train near Balasore today evening and some of our outbound people have been seriously affected/ injured. We are coordinating with Odisha government and South Eastern Railways for our people’s sake. Our emergency control room has been activated at once with numbers 033- 22143526/ 22535185. All out efforts for rescue, retrieval, aid and assistance initiated.”
Her post continued, “We are sending a 5- 6 members team to the spot to cooperate with the Odisha government and railway authorities and to assist rescue operations. I am monitoring the situation continually personally with Chief Secretary and other senior officers.”
Meanwhile, the following helpline numbers have been set up in different areas to help the victims and answer queries:
Howrah Helpline Number: 033-26382217
Kharagpur Helpline Number: 8972073925 & 9332392339
Balasore Helpline Number: 8249591559 & 7978418322
Shalimar Helpline Number: 9903370746
