By Our Correspondent
BALASORE/BHUBANESWAR: Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw who along with Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday morning rushed to Balasore, where Chennai-bound Coromandel Express collided with Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, causing death of 238 people and injuring more than 700, said a high level committee has been formed to look into the cause of the accident.
“Best healthcare facilities will be provided for the treatment of the injured. A high-level committee has been declared to look into the root cause of this train accident. Right now the complete focus is on the rescue,” Union Minister Vaishnaw said after visiting the accident site.
Both CM Patnaik and Union Minister Vaishnaw talked to the injured and asked officials to expedite rescue operations.
Meanwhile, the death toll due to Chennai-bound Coromandel Express collision with Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express in Odisha’s Balasore, has reached at 233 and it may also rise as many have sustained severe injuries.
More than 900 injured persons have been shifted to various hospitals in Balasore, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Cuttack and many other places for further treatment.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has ordered for State mourning for a day and hence no State celebration to take place on 3 June throughout the State.
Chief Secretary Sri Pradeep Jena has informed about the ongoing rescue operation in connection with train accident at Bahanaga, Odisha. Sri Jena said that around 550 persons have been carried to different local hospitals like Soro, Balasore & Bhadrak.
SCB Medical College Cuttack has been kept in readiness for exigencies. CS informed that more than 200 ambulances have been rushed to services for shifting of accident victims to nearby hospitals. More than 50 persons have lost their life till now and it is expected to be more.
More than 30 buses have been engaged for shifting of passengers to take their destinations and nearby railway stations from where train services are available. 3 NDRF, 4 ODRAF and 22 Fire Services personnel have been deployed for rescue operation.
