Coromandel Express accident: 70 people dead, over 350 injured, say officials as 12841 Shalimar-Chennai train derails in Odishas Balasore

Coromandel Express Train Accident: Officials said that 70 people have died and over 350 are injured after four coaches of the 12841 Shalimar - Chennai Coromandel Express derailed in Odisha's Balasore district on Friday evening. Sources informed that after the accident the train collided head-on with a goods train coming from the opposite direction on the other line.

The accident happened around 7.20 pm near Bahanaga Bazar station in Odisha's Balasore district when the train was on the way to Chennai Central station from Shalimar station near Kolkata, they said.

12841 Shalimar - Chennai Coromandel Express Train Accident: Latest News, Updates

• 70 dead: Officials said that 70 people have died and over 350 are injured.
   
• Casualties haven't been counted yet: Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena says, "There have been casualties but we haven't yet counted. It was a violent train accident* involving three trains - two passenger trains and one goods train."
   
• Bhadrak DM apprises of situation: Sidheswar Baliram Bondar, DM, Bhadrak, says, "At present, we have received 10 patients...we have deployed our ambulances and buses at the accident spot. In District Headquarters Hospital, 150 beds have been arranged."
   
• Injured victims receiving treatment: Injured victims of the train accident being brought to hospitals in Balasore.
   
• Railways Minister announces ex-gratia compensation: Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs 10 lakhs in case of death of accident victims and Rs 2 lakhs for those with grievous injuries and Rs 50,000 for those with minor injuries.
   
• PM Modi expresses grief: Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the train accident in Odisha's Balasore district. PM spoke with Union Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to take stock of the situation.
   
• President express grief: "Deeply anguished by loss of lives in unfortunate rail accident in Odisha, my heart goes out to bereaved families. I pray for success of rescue operations, quick recovery of injured," President Droupadi Murmu said.
   
• Railways minister rushing to accident site: Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed that he is rushing to the accident site in Odisha. He tweeted: "My prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured and condolences to the bereaved families. Rescue teams mobilised from Bhubaneswar and Kolkata. NDRF, State govt. teams and Airforce also mobilised. Will take all hands required for the rescue ops."
   
• Odisha CM to visit accident spot tomorrow: Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik informs that he will be visiting the spot tomorrow morning. "I have just reviewed the situation about this truly tragic railway accident," he said.
   
• Officials told to ensure safety of passengers on cancelled/diverted trains: Development Commissioner, Odisha, informs that since other trains will be stopped in districts falling on affected routes, Collectors have been asked to ensure that all the passengers stay safe. They have been told to provide them whatever facilities are required including water, sanitation,  security, food etc at places where such trains may have stopped. Funds to be met from CMRF.
   
• Teams of doctors from Bhadrak, Kharagpur arrive at site: Railways spokesperson Amitabh Sharma says, “There are some serious injuries. Teams of doctors from Bhadrak and Kharagpur have also reached."
   
•  50 Ambulances mobilised to the site: Odisha Health Secretary says that about 50 ambulances have been mobilised to the site. Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) and his team are on the site, directing ambulances and first aid. 50 doctors have been mobilized from other districts. Team of doctors dispatched from SCB MCH. Private hospitals in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack are also ready to receive patients.  
   
• Help desk set up at Chennai railway station: A help desk has been set up at Tamil Nadu's Chennai railway station in the aftermath of train accident in Odisha's Balasore involving Chennai bound Coromandel express train from Howrah.
   
• Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expresses grief: He tweets, "Anguished by the tragic news of the accident involving the Coromandel Express, in Balasore, Odisha." 
   
• Odisha Govt on search & rescue ops: Odisha Government says an additional rescue team of Odisha Fire and Emergency Service comprising 26 members with advance rescue equipment of Odisha Fire and Disaster Response Academy Bhubaneswar moved to the train accident site for rescue.
   
• Railways Spokesperson briefs media: Railway Spokesperson Amitabh Sharma told ANI: "At around 7pm, 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."
   
• 50 ambulances rushed: Odisha Chief Secretary told PTI: "An unfortunate accident took place between Coromandel Express, a goods train and another passenger train near Bahanagar Railway Station in Balasore district. Three NDRF teams have been dispersed and the rescue operation has started." Odisha Chief Secretary informs that nearly 50 ambulances have reported but the injured appear far too many. So, large number of buses are being mobilised to shift injured to hospital. Odisha Chief Secretary informs that 132 injured have been shifted to Soro CHC, Gopalpur CHC, and Khantapada PHC.
   
• NDRF team reaches accident site: Eastern Railways' sources said that NDRF's first team of 22 members from Balasore Railway Station (BLS) has already reached the site. Another team from Centralised Traffic Control (CTC) of 32 members left for the accident site at about 8.45PM.
   
• Odisha ministers to reach accident site: Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik has directed state minister Pramila Mallik and Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) to reach the accident site immediately, and both are headed towards the accident site.
   
• Bengal Govt coordinating with Odisha and Railways: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has tweeted that Bengal Government is coordinating with Odisha Government and South Eastern Railways. The emergency control room of Bengal government has been activated with numbers 033- 22143526/ 22535185.
   
• Senior officers at site: Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Odisha along with senior officers Hemant Sharma, Balwant Singh, Arvind Agarwal, DG Fire Services despatched to the spot to supervise arrangements and rescue after the Chennai-Howrah Coromandel Express train accident at Bahanaga.
   
• Alert sounded in Balasore: Medical colleges and all hospitals in and around Balasore have been put on alert.
   
• NDRF units mobilised: Additional Chief Secretary & Development Commissioner of Odisha informed that SCBMC has been alerted. Three NDRF units, four ODRAF units and 60 ambulances have also been mobilised. 
   
• Several trains cancelled & diverted: Eastern Railway has informed that in view of the derailment of Coromandel Express, Sealdah-Puri Duronto Express scheduled to leave Sealdah at 8 pm on June 2, has been cancelled. Check full list of cancelled and diverted trains here - Coromandel Express train accident: List of trains cancelled and diverted 

Coromandel Express Train Accident: What exactly happened? What we know so far

Initial reports emanating from the accident site in Odisha stated that several bogies of the Chennai-Howrah Coromandel Express derailed. 

Thereafter the train collided head-on with a goods train coming from the opposite direction on the other line.  

Railway Spokesperson Amitabh Sharma told ANI: "At around 7pm, 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."

South Eastern Railway's Bulletin states: "12864 Sir M Visveswaraya Terminal-Howrah Superfast Express got derailed at Bahanaga Bazar Station of Kharagpur Division of South Eastern Railway at about 19.00 hrs on 02.06.2023 and entangled with 12841 Shalimar-Chennai Coromondal Express. Accident Relief trains with medical equipments and doctors have also rushed to the site from Kharagpur and Bhadrak."