In one of the most tragic railway disasters in India, at least 233 people were killed and more than 900 injured when three trains collided one after another in a horrific sequence in Odisha's Balasore district, setting off a massive rescue and evacuation process, officials said on Saturday.
The Coromandel express, which was headed towards Chennai from Kolkata, rammed into the derailed coaches of the other train, which was going from Bengaluru to Kolkata.
The two trains associted with the accident have been identified as 12841 Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express and 12864 Yashwantpur-Howrah Superfast Express.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the major train accident in Odisha in which around 900 people are injured and 233 have died.
The Prime Minister spoke to Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and is taking stock of the situation and said all possible assistance is being given to the affected.
President Droupadi Murmu said she's "Deeply anguished to know about the loss of lives in an unfortunate rail accident in Balasore, Odisha."
Vice President Jagadeep Dhankhar also tweeted: "Deeply anguished by the loss of lives in a train accident in Balasore, Odisha"
Home Minister Amit Shah informed that National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has reached the spot and will be joining the rescue operation.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said rescue teams from Bhubaneswar and Kolkata have been mobilised and the air force has been mobilised as well. The minister said he is rushing to the spot.
