India endures its worst rail disaster in decades

A fire official reported that the fatality toll from the triple train collision has risen to 288.

Following a disastrous triple train collision in India’s eastern state of Odisha, which has become the country’s deadliest rail calamity in over 25 years, rescuers continue their search for survivors.

Saturday morning, Sudhanshu Sarangi, director general of the Odisha state fire department, told AFP that the death toll had risen to 288. In addition, more than 850 people were injured, the official stated.

Saturday has been designated as a day of mourning in the eastern state of Odisha, which borders the Bay of Bengal.

Friday evening, the catastrophe occurred at a station in the city of Balasore. A passenger train collided with a freight train, resulting in the derailment of up to 12 freight cars onto the opposite track. According to Indian Railways spokesman Amitabh Sharma, a second passenger train collided with the freight carriages and derailed shortly thereafter.

Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India convened an emergency meeting to discuss the incident. The prime minister also tweeted that he was “distressed” by the events. In this time of sorrow, my sympathies are with the grieving families. May the injured quickly recuperate. Rescue operations are currently underway at the accident site, and all possible aid is being provided to those afflicted,” he wrote.

Officials reported that more than 115 ambulances were dispatched to transport the injured to hospitals. Additionally, the military has been deployed to aid in the enormous rescue endeavor.

One survivor reported to local media that he was napping during the collision and awoke under a dozen other passengers. The individual stated that he was eventually able to exit the vehicle, escaping with minor neck and arm injuries.

The train accident in Odisha was the deadliest in India in decades. Due to a signaling error, two trains collided in West Bengal in 1999, resulting in at least 285 fatalities. A train derailment in Uttar Pradesh in 2016 claimed the lives of 140 individuals.