Death toll in Indian train crash rises to 261, rescue operations complete

The toll in the disastrous railway accident in India’s Odisha has risen to 261 and rescue operations at the site have been completed, a South Eastern Railway official said, Report informs referring to the Press Trust of India.

"The number of casualties in the June 2 railway accident has increased to 261. Another 650 injured passengers are being treated at various hospitals in Odisha," SER spokesperson Aditya Chowdhury said.

An enquiry into the accident will be held by the commissioner of railway safety (CRS), South Eastern circle, the official said.

The train crash, one of the deadliest in the country, took place in Balasore district about 250 km south of Kolkata and 170 km north of Bhubaneswar around 7 pm on June 2, prompting the Railway Ministry to order a probe. Three trains - the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and a goods train were involved in the accident.

The railways initiated a high-level probe into the train crash in Odisha, which will be headed by the commissioner of railway safety, South Eastern Circle, officials said on June 3.

The commissioner of railway safety works under the Ministry of Civil Aviation and investigates all such accidents. The national transporter has also said anti-train collision system "Kavach" was not available on the route.

At least 288 people were killed and more than 850 injured in a horrific train collision in India, officials said Saturday, the country's deadliest rail accident in more than 20 years.

Images from the crash site showed smashed train compartments torn open with blood-stained holes near Balasore, in the eastern state of Odisha.

Carriages had flipped over entirely in the crash late on Friday and rescue workers searched for survivors trapped in the mangled wreckage, with scores of bodies laid out under white sheets beside the tracks.

As dawn broke on Saturday, rescue workers were able to see the full extent of the carnage.

02.06.2023

20:34

50 people have died as eight carriages of the passenger speed train derailed after colliding with a cargo train in India.

19:54

Eight carriages of a passenger speed train derailed after colliding with a cargo train in India on Friday, Report informs via Hindustan Times.

Several people died as a result.

According to the information, search and rescue efforts are underway at the site.