A catastrophic train crash involving three trains in India’s eastern Odisha state has resulted in the loss of at least 280 lives and left around 1,000 people injured.
The tragedy unfolded on Friday when the trains collided sending shockwaves through the region.
The collision occurred between an express train, a passenger train, and a freight train, causing a massive impact that led to severe damage to the involved trains and catastrophic consequences for the passengers onboard.
Rescue and relief operations were immediately initiated, with local authorities and emergency services rushing to the scene to assist the survivors and retrieve the bodies of those who lost their lives.
The injured passengers were swiftly transported to nearby hospitals, where medical personnel worked tirelessly to provide them with the necessary care.
The severity of the injuries varied, ranging from minor to critical conditions, and medical teams are working around the clock to stabilize the wounded and ensure they receive the best possible treatment.
Officials are still investigating the cause of the deadliest train crash in India in over two decades. According to authorities, the Coromandel Express, which was en route from Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) to Chennai (formerly Madras), derailed and collided with a stationary goods train around 19:00 local time (13:30 GMT) in Balasore district.
The impact caused several carriages to end up on the opposite track.
Tragically, the situation took a turn for the worse when the Howrah Superfast Express, traveling in the opposite direction from Yesvantpur to Howrah, subsequently struck the overturned coaches.
The series of events led to significant casualties and injuries.
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The precise circumstances leading to the collision are yet to be determined, and authorities continue their efforts to establish a comprehensive understanding of the incident.
“The force with which the trains collided has resulted in several coaches being crushed and mangled,” Atul Karwal, chief of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) told ANI news agency.
India has witnessed several deadly train crashes in recent years, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced safety measures and infrastructure upgrades.
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These accidents have resulted in the loss of numerous lives and left many injured, prompting calls for comprehensive reforms to prevent such tragedies from recurring.
