3 Killed, 7 Injured as Goods Train Derails in Odisha; Railway Minister Vaishnaw, CM Patnaik Announce Ex-gratia

GG News Bureau

Jajpur, 21st Nov. A goods train derailed at Korai railway station in Odisha’s Jajpur district on Monday morning, killing at least three people and injuring seven others, according to officials.

According to East Coast Railway (ECoR) officials, the accident occurred around 6.44 a.m., while some people were waiting for a passenger train on the platform and in the waiting hall.

Station personnel said that the loco pilot of the empty goods train traveling from Dongoaposi to Chhatrapur abruptly applied the brakes, causing eight wagons to derail and collide with passengers on the platform and in the waiting hall.

Some derailed wagons climbed the foot-over-bridge and fell on the waiting hall and ticket counter, according to Jajpur Additional District Magistrate Akshay Kumar Mallick, who is overseeing the rescue operation.

He stated that two of the three people killed were women.

The two women were mother and daughter while a two-and-half-year-old child with them miraculously survived, the man who lost his wife and daughter said.

A senior police officer said that they suspect that more people might be trapped underneath the debris. The number of fatalities may go up as some people have been seriously injured, Railway officials said, adding that the station building was damaged in the accident.

Derailed wagons were seen strewn across both platforms in social media videos, with axles lying on the railway tracks.

Some wagons were seen damaging one of the foot-over-bridge entrances, while others were seen tearing apart overhead power wires and demolishing railway station buildings.

Locals were seen assisting rescue teams in clearing the debris and searching for bodies and injured people beneath it.

Apart from Railways, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), Fire Services and locals are engaged in the rescue operations, an official said.

Meanwhile, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the deceased’s next of kin, Rs 1 lakh to the seriously injured, and Rs 25,000 to those suffering minor injuries.

“I am deeply saddened by the loss of lives in the Korai train accident. Announcing a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the family members of the deceased, Rs 1 lakh to the seriously injured and Rs 25,000 to those sustaining minor injuries,” he tweeted in Odia.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed his heartfelt condolences and announced a Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for the deceased’s next of kin and free treatment for the injured. Patnaik asked Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Ramilla Mallick to visit the site and assess the situation.

Train services on the Howrah-Chennai route were disrupted because both lines were closed due to the accident.

ECoR has cancelled eight trains, short-terminated five and diverted 12 others, chief public relations officer Biswajit Sahu said.

An accident relief train and a medical team have been sent to the spot, he added.

Hundreds of passengers were stranded at railway stations across the country, including Bhubaneswar and Puri. Some had already checked out of their hotels and were awaiting their trains.

The emergency helpline numbers are 8455889905 (Korai station), 0674-2534027 (Bhubaneswar), and 0674-2492245 (Bhubaneswar) (Khurda Road). Roop Narayan Sunkar, General Manager of ECoR, and other senior officials have rushed to the scene to monitor relief efforts.