Wagons overturned or stacked on top of each other, bodies covered with tarpaulins: a terrible train disaster involving three trains near Balasorein eastern India on Friday, left dozens dead and hundreds injured.
“About 50 people died and more than 500 injured. Our top priority now is to rescue (passengers) and treat the injured,” senior Odisha state government official Pradeep Jena told AFP. The Indian press agency PTI gives a final toll of 70 dead and 350 injured, with the circumstances of the tragedy remaining unclear.
Triple derailment
A passenger train, the Coromandel Express, and a freight convoy collided near Balasore, about 200 kilometers from Bhubaneswar, the state capital of Odisha, witnesses and government spokespersons said regional.
A second passenger train was also involved in the tragedy, according to Pradeep Jena, but the exact circumstances under which it happened are unknown.
A Balasore police official told AFP that many of the injured were in serious condition but he did not know more at this time. Many passengers could also have been trapped under wagons.
75 ambulances
“We expect relief operations to continue at least until tomorrow morning. On our side, we have prepared all major public and private hospitals, from the accident site to the state capital, to take care of the injured, “said SK Panda, a spokesman for the authorities. of State.
He added that “75 ambulances” had already been dispatched to the scene and “numerous coaches” had also been sent to transport both injured passengers and survivors.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his part said he was “distressed”. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw meanwhile said he was going to the scene of the disaster, stressing that “the air force” was also “mobilised”.