Coromandel Express Derailment In Odisha: Balasore Accident Toll Heading To Become Top Rail Mishap

With the casualties touching 288, the Balasore train accident in Odisha is becoming the worst rail mishap in the recent past so far.

Besides heavy casualty, the number of injured is also higher side with about 900 have been admitted to various nearby hospitals including Balasore, Soro and Bhadrak.

Here are some of the deadliest train accidents in India:

Firozabad Train Collision (1995): On 20 August 1995, a collision occurred between the Purushottam Express and the Kalindi Express near Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh. The accident claimed the lives of around 358 people.

Gaisal Train Disaster (1999): On 2 August 1999, the Brahmaputra Mail collided with the Awadh-Assam Express near Gaisal, Assam. The accident resulted in the deaths of approximately 290 people.

Khanna Rail Crash (1998): On 26 November 1998, the Jammu Tawi-Sealdah Express collided with the Kalindi Express near Khanna, Punjab. The accident led to the loss of around 212 lives.

Peruman Train Collision (1981): On 8 July 1981, the Island Express collided with a local passenger train near Peruman, Kerala. The accident caused the deaths of approximately 150 people.

Pukhrayan Train Derailment (2016): On 20 November 2016, the Indore-Patna Express derailed near Pukhrayan, Uttar Pradesh. The accident resulted in the loss of around 150 lives.

Meanwhile, the rescue operation at the site of tragic three-train accident has been completed and the restoration work has commenced, the Ministry of Railways said on Saturday.

Around 10-12 coaches of the Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express derailed on Friday evening around 7 pm near Bahanaga station in Odisha’s Balasore district.

The death toll in the tragic accident has risen to 261 while over 650 passengers have been injured, ANI reported.

Railway spokesperson Amitabh Sharma said that these coaches fell on the opposite track and because of that, 3-4 coaches of a train from Yeshwanthpur to Howrah also got derailed.

Condoling the loss of lives, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh in case of death, Rs 2 lakh in case of grievous injuries and Rs 50000 for those who sustained minor injuries.

The train serves as a vital link connecting Bengal with Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.