Coromondel Express Tragedy: Bengal BJP Chief Visits Spot, CM Mamata To Visit Tomorrow

Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar visited the injured in the Coromondel Express tragedy at Fakir Mohan Medical College and Hospital in Balasore. TMC MP Dola Sen also visited the spot and said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee might come to visit the people on Sunday. She added that the CM has sent her officials, doctors and trauma ambulance from Kharagpur for now. The death toll in the matter rose to 233 and more than 900 have been injured, news agency ANI cited Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena as saying.

TMC MP Dola Sen while talking to ANI said, “We are really shocked…Our CM (Mamata Banerjee) might come here tomorrow …she has sent our officials… doctors, and trauma ambulance from Kharagpur.”

Meanwhile, Naveen Patnaik, the Chief Minister of Odisha, is scheduled to be in Balasore today to oversee the rescue operation occurring due to the collision of three trains as death toll rose to 233 in the horrific train accident. Earlier yesterday, he hastened towards the control room that was assessing the situation. More than 800 are feared critically injured after two express trains derailed near Balasore’s Bahanaga station in Odisha last evening.

Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena while talking to the media on Saturday said, “So far around 900 passengers have been injured & are being treated in various hospitals in Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Jajpur & Cuttack districts. So far, 233 dead bodies have been recovered. The search & rescue operation is going on. One bogie which is severely damaged is left; NDRF, ODRAF & Fire Service are still working to cut the bogie & try to recover the living or the dead.”

As the rescue operations continue, the death toll and the number of people injured in the accident might rise.

What Went Down

As per the information received from Kharagpur Divisional Railway Manager, the Shalimar-Howrah Coromandel Express was derailed at Bahanaga station at around 6:51 pm, while the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast train derailed at the same spot at 6:55 pm. Rescue operations were launched, and the injured are being shifted to Balasore Medical College Hospital and other hospitals in nearby areas.