Tragic Derailment of Coromandel Express Leaves Over 70 Dead and Hundreds Injured in Odisha’s Balasore District

Breaking News: Coromandel Express Derails in Tragic Accident, Dozens Killed and Hundreds Injured

Balasore, Odisha – In a devastating incident near Bahananga railway station in Odisha’s Balasore district, the Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express (12841) collided with a goods train, resulting in a catastrophic derailment. The accident occurred on Friday, June 2, 2023, leaving a trail of destruction and claiming the lives of at least 50 passengers, while more than 350 others suffered injuries.

The mishap took place at approximately 7:20 pm when the Coromandel Express, which had departed from Shalimar railway station in Shibpur, Howrah, on the same day at 3:15 pm, collided with a stationary goods train. The impact of the collision caused over 15 coaches to derail, spreading chaos and panic among the passengers on board.

Immediate rescue operations were initiated, and the scene was filled with heroic efforts from numerous individuals assisting in the process. The Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) team stationed at Balasore and three National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) teams were promptly dispatched to the site to aid in relief and rescue operations.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw expressed his condolences and announced a compensation package for the victims. He declared an ex-gratia payment of ₹10 lakh to the kin of the deceased, ₹2 lakh for grievous injuries, and ₹50,000 for minor injuries. The minister assured the affected families that the government would provide all necessary support during this difficult time.

Meanwhile, the Balasore District Collector, Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde, has been directed to visit the accident site and oversee the arrangements for relief efforts. Additionally, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, activated the state’s emergency control room and pledged support to the Odisha government and railway authorities. She dispatched a team of 5-6 members to collaborate with the ongoing rescue operations.

The collision had severe repercussions on the railway network, with three train services being canceled, six partially canceled, and nine diverted due to the incident. The authorities are working diligently to restore normalcy and ensure the safety of future train services.

In response to the tragedy, emergency control room numbers have been issued for those seeking information or assistance. The railway authorities can be reached at +91 6782262286 and +91 6782262286, while the DRM of Kharagpur has provided the following emergency contact numbers: Howrah (HWH) – 03326382217, Kharagpur (KGP) – 8972073925, 9332392339, Balasore (BLS) – 8249591559, 7978418322, and Shalimar (SHM) – 9903370746.

As the rescue and relief operations continue, the NDRF team has arrived at the accident site, joining the efforts to locate and assist any remaining survivors. The authorities are tirelessly working to ascertain the cause of the collision and prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.

This tragic accident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safety measures and the need for constant vigilance to ensure the well-being of railway passengers across the country.