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Catastrophic Train Derailment Claims Over 280 Lives and Wounds 900 in India’s Deadliest Rail Mishap in Years

by Gabriel Martinez
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Focus keyword: India Train Derailment

Catastrophic Train Derailment Claims Over 280 Lives and Wounds 900 in India’s Deadliest Rail Mishap in Years

On Saturday, rescue personnel sifted through rubble and twisted metal following a devastating train derailment in India. The mishap led to the death of over 280 people, leaving hundreds wounded as train compartments capsized and disintegrated in one of the worst train disasters the country has experienced in recent times. The tragic event unfolded roughly 220 kilometers (137 miles) southwest of Kolkata on Friday night, sparking a frenzied effort by rescue teams who scrambled to breach doors and windows with cutting torches to extract survivors.

The accident occurred in Balasore district in the eastern state of Odisha and left about 900 people injured, informed P.K. Jena, the state’s leading administrative official. The exact cause of the accident is currently under investigation. Sudhanshu Sarangi, director of Odisha’s fire and emergency department, informed The Big Big News that at least 280 bodies were retrieved throughout the night leading to Saturday morning. He confirmed that over 800 wounded passengers were transported to multiple hospitals, with many being critically injured.

Local authorities, army soldiers, and air force helicopters combined efforts for the massive relief operation. About 200 of the severely injured were moved to specialty hospitals across the state, while an additional 200 were discharged post treatment, said Jena. The remaining victims are receiving treatment at local hospitals.

“Our immediate task is to identify the victims. If relatives can produce proof, bodies are released post autopsies. Unidentified bodies may require DNA testing and other procedures,” he explained. As rescuers cut through the damaged train cars in the hope of finding survivors, Sarangi conceded the possibility of individuals still trapped beneath the wreckage but expressed doubt about their chances of survival.

Late Friday saw hundreds trapped inside the mangled carriages as rescuers endeavored to extract them. “By 10 p.m. (on Friday), we had managed to rescue the survivors. After that, our focus shifted to retrieving the dead,” Sarangi said, adding that it was a profoundly tragic event unlike anything he had seen in his career.

The disaster involved the derailment of 10 to 12 carriages of one train, with debris from the derailed coaches falling onto an adjacent track, reported Amitabh Sharma, a railroad ministry spokesperson. A passing passenger train then struck this debris, causing up to three of its coaches to derail. Reports also indicated the involvement of a freight train, though this detail remains unconfirmed by railway authorities.

As rescue and police teams persisted in their efforts on Saturday morning, concerns grew that the death toll might rise even further. Locals and rescuers alike rushed to aid survivors, with many volunteering at a local hospital to donate blood. The rescue operation faced challenges due to two train cars being tightly compressed as a result of the impact, shared Jena.

Over 1,200 rescue personnel, aided by 115 ambulances, 50 buses and 45 mobile health units, tirelessly worked at the crash site through the night. The state of Odisha declared Saturday a day of mourning, with the state’s chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, visiting the district to meet with the injured passengers.

Local villagers recounted their immediate response upon hearing the crash, rushing to the site to help evacuate victims. “The local community was instrumental in the rescue. They not only assisted in evacuating victims, but also retrieved our luggage and provided us with water,” Rupam Banerjee, a survivor, was quoted by PTI.

The two trains involved in the collision were the Coromandel Express, travelling from Howrah in West Bengal state to Chennai in Tamil Nadu state, and the Howrah Superfast Express, travelling from Bengaluru in Karnataka to Howrah. The sequence of derailment remains unclear at this time.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the families affected. “May the injured recover soon,” Modi tweeted, noting that he had discussed the incident with the railway minister and assured that all necessary assistance would be provided.

India’s railway minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, announced that a thorough investigation would be conducted amidst criticism from the opposition demanding his resignation. Despite efforts by the government to enhance rail safety, India’s vast train network experiences several hundred accidents annually.

The country has had a history of devastating train accidents. In 1995, two trains collided near New Delhi, causing 358 fatalities in one of India’s most horrific train accidents. In 2016, a passenger train slid off the tracks between the cities of Indore and Patna, claiming 146 lives.

Train mishaps in India are often attributed to human error or antiquated signalling equipment. The country’s extensive rail network serves over 12 million people travelling across 64,000 kilometers (40,000 miles) of track on 14,000 trains daily.

FAQ about India Train Derailment

Where did the train derailment occur?

The train derailment occurred in Balasore district in the eastern state of Odisha, India, about 220 kilometers (137 miles) southwest of Kolkata.

How many people were killed and injured in the accident?

The derailment led to the death of over 280 people and approximately 900 others were injured.

Which trains were involved in the derailment?

The trains involved in the derailment were the Coromandel Express, travelling from Howrah in West Bengal state to Chennai in Tamil Nadu state, and the Howrah Superfast Express, travelling from Bengaluru in Karnataka to Howrah. The sequence of derailment remains unclear at this time.

What were the rescue operations like?

Over 1,200 rescue personnel worked at the crash site, supported by 115 ambulances, 50 buses, and 45 mobile health units. The local community also provided significant help in the rescue effort.

Has the cause of the derailment been determined?

As of now, the exact cause of the accident is under investigation.

What is the government’s response to the accident?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and assured all possible assistance. India’s railway minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, announced a comprehensive investigation into the accident. The opposition, however, is demanding his resignation.

How common are train accidents in India?

Despite efforts to improve rail safety, several hundred accidents occur every year on India’s vast train network. The most devastating prior to this event occurred in 1995 and 2016, resulting in 358 and 146 fatalities respectively.

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5 comments

Jake_Allen June 3, 2023 - 8:17 am

omg.. this is absolutely heartbraking.. never thought i’d hear about such a disaster. my thoughts go out to all the familys affected..

Reply
AlishaSingh23 June 3, 2023 - 8:17 am

Seriously, where’s the safety? The gov needs to focus more on improving our train system, can’t belive so many people lost their lives.

Reply
Varun_M1995 June 3, 2023 - 8:17 am

This is such a terrible incident, more than 200 ppl gone in an instant..just unthinkable. Railway minister needs to step up, man.

Reply
Mia_Khalifa_Fan June 3, 2023 - 8:17 am

Guys we should be greatful for the local ppl and the rescuers who risked their lives. they r the real heros here.. I hope the injured recover soon.

Reply
Rajat_Gupta June 3, 2023 - 8:17 am

I can’t even start to imagine what the survivrs went through. It’s things like this that make u realize life is short and unpredictable.

Reply

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