As many as 233 people were killed and about 900 injured in the horrific train crash in Odisha, involving the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and a goods train.
The accident happened near the Bahanaga Baazar station in Balasore district, about 250 km south of Kolkata and 170 km north of Bhubaneswar, around 7 pm on Friday.
Several coaches of the 12864 Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, on the way to Howrah, derailed and fell on adjacent tracks, an official said. PM Narendra Narendra Modi has expressed grief on the accident. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik have rushed to the accident site to personally monitor the situation.
Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Secretary PK Jena has confirmed that a third freight train was also involved in the accident.