Bhubaneswar: At least two people were killed and 100 others injured when a Bhubaneswar-Bhadrak passenger train collided with a stationary goods train near Kathajodi station, Cuttack at around 6:20pm Thursday, East Coast Railway officials said.
Thirty-five of the injured are in a serious condition. All the injured have been admitted to local hospitals.
Railway officials said the passenger train (number 78408) hit the goods train (BCN-DANKUNI) from the rear and preliminary investigation shows the former overshot a signal leading to the tragedy. The driver of the passenger train fled after the accident.
ECoR General Manager Umesh Singh, DRM, Khurda Road, Chief Safety Officer of the ECoR and other senior officials rushed to the spot. The Commissioner of Police and other senior officials are monitoring the relief and rescue operations.
Teams of Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) are also helping in the rescue and relief operations.
Railways ordered relief trains with crane and jacks from Khurda Road and Bhadrak for the rescue operation. The huge crowd of onlookers created difficulties for the rescue operation.
Train services have been severely affected between Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.
Both the up and down tracks have been blocked as two coaches of the passenger train derailed, an ECoR official said.
The Puri-Durg Express will now be diverted via Barang-Naraj towards Dhenkanal, instead of Cuttack. Similarly Chennai-Howrah Mail (12840), Puri-Talcher Express (58414) and Puri-Sealdah Duronto Express (22202) were diverted via Naraj due to the accident.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed concern over the accident and directed state government officials to ensure free treatment to those injured.
The railway has also opened helplines for the passengers and their relatives. The numbers are: 0674-2490670, 0674-2301525, 9437579238 for queries.
The railway ministry has also ordered an enquiry into the incident.
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