More than 200 people were killed when three trains collided in the eastern state of Odisha, a senior official said
People inspect a derailed passenger train in Balasore, India, June 2, 2023. © Press Trust of India / AP
The number of people killed in a derailment involving two passenger trains and a freight train in India has risen to 207, Odisha State Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena said in the early hours of Saturday. He added that at least 900 were injured.
The tragedy occurred at a station in the city of Balasore on Friday evening. According to Indian Railways spokesman Amitabh Sharma, a passenger train crashed into a freight train, with 10 to 12 of its cars falling on the opposite track. Some time later, a second passenger train coming down that track collided with the freight cars and derailed as well.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that rescue teams from India’s other states have been deployed to Odisha to assist local first responders. More than 110 ambulances have been dispatched to evacuate the survivors, officials said.
READ MORE: One dead and dozens injured in passenger train crash
The Odisha authorities have declared a day of mourning on Sunday. The incident is the deadliest rail disaster in India in decades. In 1999, two trains collided in West Bengal, causing at least 285 fatalities.
