2023-06-03 01:08:56
It is one of train disasters deadliest of the last ten years in the world. A passenger train, the Coromandel Express, and a freight convoy collided on Friday near Balasore, about 200 kilometers from Bhubaneswar, the state capital of Odisha, killing more than 200 people and injuring hundreds .
A second passenger train was also involved in the tragedy, according to Pradeep Jena, a senior government official in that state, but the exact circumstances under which it happened are unknown. “At the last count, we have more than 200 dead and this figure is increasing because there are many serious injuries, head injuries,” said Sudhanshu Sarangi, the director general of the firefighting services of the State of Odisha. “A very sad event and the prospects are not good,” he added, while at least 850 injured are to be deplored.
A Balasore police official told AFP that many of the injured were in serious condition but he did not know more at this time. Many passengers could also have been trapped under wagons.
A survivor told reporters he was asleep when the disaster struck and awoke to find himself under a dozen other passengers, before crawling out of his compartment with only neck and chest injuries. arm.
The Air Force mobilized
“We expect relief operations to continue at least until tomorrow morning. On our side, we have prepared all major public and private hospitals, from the accident site to the state capital, to take care of the injured, “said SK Panda, a spokesman for the authorities. of State.
He added that “75 ambulances” had already been dispatched to the scene and “numerous coaches” had also been sent to transport both injured passengers and survivors. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his part said he was “distressed”.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw meanwhile said he was going to the scene of the disaster, stressing that “the air force” was also “mobilised”. India has experienced several other rail disasters in the past but safety on the rails has improved significantly in recent years thanks to massive new investments and technological upgrades.
The deadliest railway accident in this country is that of June 6, 1981 when, in the state of Bihar (east), seven wagons of a train which was crossing a bridge, fell into a river, the Bagmati, making between 800 and 1,000 dead.
#India #dead #hundreds #injured #rail #disaster #involving #trains