Train tragedy: Odisha govt declares a day’s mourning, no state celebrations today

The Odisha government declared a day of mourning on Saturday in the aftermath of the horrific train derailment in Balasore on Friday evening, which killed more than 200 passengers and injured another 900.

On Saturday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik declared a day of mourning, declaring that no state celebrations would take place. The announcement was made via an official press release issued by the state I&PR Department.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Saturday that he has ordered a high-level investigation into the Friday night derailment.

Speaking to ANI on the incident, Vaishnaw said the accident was unfortunate and the rescue operation began shortly after word of the incident reached his ministry.

He said the probe was ordered to determine what caused the derailment of the passenger train coaches.
Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Dola Sen on Saturday said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to visit the accident site on Saturday, adding that she has sent officials from Kharagpur to engage in the ongoing relief operations at the scene of the horrific accident.

“…we are shocked…Our CM (Mamata Banerjee) might come here tomorrow …she has sent our officials… doctors, and a trauma ambulance from Kharagpur,” Sen said.

Several coaches of the Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express derailed near Bahanaga station in Odisha’s Balasore after hitting a goods train.

According to Railway spokesperson Amitabh Sharma, the accident took place around 7 pm on Friday.
“Around 7 pm, 10-12 coaches of the Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express derailed near Baleswar and fell on the opposite track. After some time, another train from Yeswanthpur to Howrah dashed into those derailed coaches resulting in the derailment of its 3-4 coaches,” Sharma told ANI.