‘The person you are calling is no more’, aftermaths of Balasore train tragedy comes to light

Balasore: Odisha experienced the biggest train accident of the century with over 233 casualties and 900 injuries. On Friday evening, Coromandel Express train derailed after colliding with good train in Bahanaga Station in Balasore of Odisha leading to loss of lives in huge number.

In such a situation, heart-wrenching scenes of strangers receiving calls from dead bodies and informing the deceased’s families about their demise is coming forward.

The Howrah-Chennai Coromandel train was carrying thousands of passengers from all over the country. As the news of the accident is now all over the nation, the family of the passengers have been trying to contact them over the call to know their whereabouts. As the deceased cannot receive the calls, the residents and workers present in the hospital are receiving the call and informing them about the demise of the person.

Meanwhile, the rescue operation is still continuing even after 12 hours of the mishap, informed Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena. The Chief Secy also informed that rescue operation is taking time as the last coach of the ill-fated train Coromandel has been extensively damaged while another coach has climbed onto it.

NDRF and other personnel are carrying out the rescue operations. Several volunteers came forward and at present there is a stock of 900 units of blood in Balasore following a massive donation by the locals. Similarly, volunteers are also ready to donate blood in Bhadrak and Cuttack. The process of identifying the bodies and autopsy has already started.

The bodies will be dispatched to their destinations after autopsy. The statutory procedure to identify the bodies has also been started, informed Chief Secy.

Note-worthy, that over 900 passengers are stated to be injured while more than 238 died as 8-10 bogies of the train skidded off the track after being hit by goods train near Bahanaga.

HELPLINE NUMBER:

Disaster management Numbers at GRC- 03324503371, 03324397928

• Rly Number – 46060, 46061.
• HWH – 033-26382217.
• KGP- 8972073925, 9332392339.
• BLS- 8249591559, 7978418322.
• SHM- 9903370746.

Helpline numbers set up by SWR at

• Bangalore: 080-22356409
• Bangarpet: 08153 255253
• Kuppam : 8431403419
• SMVB : 09606005129
• KJM :+91 88612 03980