LIVE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Balasore Hospital to meet with victims of the Odisha railway catastrophe.

 

LIVE: Balasore railway accident The death toll has risen to nearly 300, with over 900 people injured in a quadruple train crash on Friday evening.

LIVE updates on the Balasore train derailment: On Friday evening at 7 p.m., a devastating train catastrophe in Odisha's Balasore killed over 290 people and injured over 900 more. The Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express catastrophe resulted in the fall of 10 to 12 coaches into the opposing track. Following that, the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express collided with the derailed coaches, resulting in the derailment of three to four of its own coaches. The situation was exacerbated by the involvement of a cargo train.

On Saturday, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that a high-level investigation into the derailment had been ordered. "The accident was unfortunate, and the rescue operation began shortly after the incident was reported to his ministry," the minister told ANI. Ex-gratia payments of Rs. 10 lakh have been issued by the railway ministry for the family of the deceased, Rs. 2 lakh for those who were critically injured, and Rs. 50,000 for those who suffered minor injuries.

New Delhi, India – A terrible three-train disaster in Odisha's Balasore on Friday evening killed at least 261 people and injured over 900 more. 

When the Coromandel Shalimar Express, a passenger train, derailed and crashed with a goods train, another train, the Yesvantpur-Howrah Superfast, collided with the destroyed coaches.

The death toll is expected to rise, and many more people are believed to be trapped under the rubble.

"Two passenger trains were actively involved in the accident, while a third train, a goods train that was parked at the site, was also involved," said Amitabh Sharma, executive director of Indian Railways, to AFP. 

One of the deadliest train mishaps happened at 7 p.m., when many people were sleeping.

On its journey to Chennai, the Coromandel Shalimar Express reportedly derailed and crashed with a cargo train, causing multiple coaches to roll over. 

The Yesvantpur-Howrah Superfast then ran over the derailed trains. Both trains were going at high speeds when the incidents happened.

The major accident occurred between 6.50 p.m. and 7.10 p.m., according to officials and witnesses.

Railways have asked for an examination into suspected operational flaws.

Overnight, rescue efforts resumed as personnel and villagers worked to remove remains and survivors from the splintered rubble. 

Odisha Train Accident