Balasore: Actor Salman Khan expressed his anguish over the triple train accident in Odisha’s Balasore district, which claimed 238 lives and injured over 900 people.
Taking to Twitter, Salman wrote, “Really saddened to hear abt the accident, May God rest the souls of the deceased in peace, Protect n give strength to the families n the injured from this unfortunate accident.”
As per the latest estimates by the South Eastern Railway, the death toll has risen to 238 in a three-way accident involving Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Coromandel Express and goods train on three separate tracks at Bahanaga Bazar Station, Balasore district. 17 coaches of these two trains have been de-railed and severely damaged.
Around 650 injured passengers have been taken to the Hospitals of Gopalpur, Khantapara, Balasore, Bhadrak and Soro, the South Eastern Railway said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Friday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased.
According to a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office, the ex-gratia amount will be allotted from Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the next of kin of the dead.
Several coaches of the 12864 Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, on the way to Howrah, derailed and fell on an adjacent track. The 12841 Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express coming from the opposite direction on a parallel track rammed into the derailed coaches. Some Coromandel Express coaches derailed and hit the stationary goods train on the third track.
According to Railway spokesperson Amitabh Sharma, the accident took place around 7 pm on Friday.
Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reached the spot and supervised the rescue operation. He has ordered a detailed high-level inquiry into the incident. The rail safety commissioner will also conduct an independent inquiry, Vaishnaw said on Saturday.”Our focus is on rescue and relief operations. Restoration will begin after clearance from the district administration,” the union railway minister said.
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