By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR: The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the victims of train mishap in Odisha.
The Prime Minister’s office tweeted;”An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased in the train mishap in Odisha. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000: PM”
In an unfortunate incident, Train no 12841 Coromandal Express (Howrah- Chennai) got derailed this evening near Bahanaga bazaar station. Train no 12864 SMVB-HWH Superfast Exp (Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal- Howrah) also got derailed at Bahanaga bazaar station. Bahanaga Bazar railway station is a railway station on Kharagpur–Puri line, part of the Howrah–Chennai main line under Kharagpur railway division of South Eastern Railway zone in Balasore district in Odisha. Immediately Accident Relief train, Self Propelled Accident Relief Medical Vans (SPARME), Accident Relief Trains (ART) were ordered from Kharagpur, Balasore & Santragachi.
Railway authorities have immediately rushed to the spot to coordinate rescue and relief operations. Entire focus of Railways is to rescue the passengers and minimize causalities. Rescue operations are being carried out at war footing scale. NDRF team, Medical team, Ambulances are at the accident site.
As of now, 240 numbers of casualties reported due to the tragic accident and more than 500 injured persons were hospitalized in the nearby hospital. Minorly injured passengers are being shifted to the Balasore, Khantapara, Soro and Gopalpur Health units on priority.
Railway Helpline numbers have been issued for the information of stranded passengers. The Helpline numbers are as follows:
Howrah Help line Number : 033-26382217
Kharagpur Help line Number: 8972073925 & 9332392339
Balasore Help line Number: 8249591559 & 7978418322
Shalimar Help line Number: 9903370746
Santragachi Jn Help line Number : 8109289460, 8340649469
