Death toll climbs to 288, over 1,000 injured in Odisha train crash: Railways

The death toll from a threetrain crash in Odishas Balasore has climbed to 288 Indian Railways said on SaturdayAs of 2 pm today the death toll in the Odisha train crash has risen to 288 while 747 people have been injured along with 56 grievously injured Indian Railways said in a statementEarlier in the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached the train crash site in Odishas Balasore He was accompanied by Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Union Education Minister Dharmendra PradhanThe threeway accident involved BengaluruHowrah Superfast Express the Coromandel Express and goods train on three separate tracks at Bahanaga Bazar Station in Odishas Balasore district According to Odisha Governments Special Relief Commissioners office 17 coaches of the two trains had derailed and severely damagedAt the site PM Modi spoke to Cabinet Secretary and Health Minister and asked them to ensure all needed help is provided to the injured and their families government sources saidAfter taking stock of crash incident PM Modi visited Fakir Mohan Hospital Balasore where some of the passengers injured in Fridays accident involving three trains were admittedAfter meeting the crash survivors he said that directions have been given to probe the train accident and that whoever is found guilty will not be sparedIts a painful incident The government will not be able to bring them back who lost their lives in the accident but the government is with their kin in this grief This incident is very serious for the government The government will leave no stone unturned for the treatment of those injured Instructions have been given for every type of investigation and whoever is found guilty will not be spared PM Modi saidI also thank the Government of Odisha and all the officers of the administration here who tried to help the people with limited resources he said adding that Railway is working towards track restorationHe also thanked the people of Odisha who came forward to help crash survivors whether by donating blood or providing assistance in the rescue operationEarlier today PM Modi convened a meeting to review the situation in connection with the rail accidentSeven National Disaster Response Force NDRF Teams five Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force ODRAF Units and 24 Fire Services and Emergency Units engaged in rescue operationsThe Indian Air Force IAF deployed Mi17 helicopters for the evacuation of the deceased and injured According to the Eastern Command IAF is coordinating the rescue efforts with the civil administration and Indian RailwaysThe Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw earlier visited the site and directed a high level probe and said measures will be taken to ensure such incidents do not take place in futureChief Minister Naveen Patnaik also visited the accident site to take stock of the situation