Howrah-Chennai Coromandel Express To Re-Start Journey From Shalimar Today

Limping back to normalcy, the newly constituted rake of Howrah-Chennai Coromandel Express will start its journey, it's first operation after the ghastly incident, from Shalimar station today (7 June).

The train is expected to start at 3.20pm from Shalimar and will reach Balasore at about 6.30pm in the evening.

With the completion of restoration works for both up and down lines, the normal train operations are gradually starting at the affected station in Balasore.

Leaving nothing to chance, the Indian Railways has undertaken a massive exercise to strengthen safety mechanisms in train operation. Chairman Railway Board A K Lahoti held a meeting of General Managers of all zones on Tuesday (6 June) evening to ensure fool-proof systems in the Railways.

Meanwhile, the CBI team has started the work after reaching the site yesterday while the Commissioner Railway Safety (CRS) has completed the first round of preliminary meeting.

CRS AM Choudhury has met about 55 persons including loco pilots, assistant loco pilots, station master, train managers, GRP personnel, pantry car staff, on duty station superintendent, TTE of the train, supervisory staff at the station and the medical staff who attended the victims.  

The Railways has confirmed 288 deaths in the triple-train accident out of which 205 bodies have been identified and handed over to their relatives. However, 83 bodies are yet to be identified.

Every possible step is being taken to hand over bodies to their relatives after identification, said a senior South eastern Railway official.