At least 29 passengers were injured when eight coaches of the Mumbai-Bhubaneswar Lokmanya Tilak Express derailed after the train hit the brake van of a goods train between Salagaon and Nergundi Railway Stations in Odisha’s Cuttack district at 7 a.m. on Thursday.
Although rescue operations were affected due to heavy fog in the region, there were no deaths and all the injured persons, including 11 women and two children, were admitted to the SCB Medical College in Cuttack city.
Of the 29 injured persons, one person was in a critical condition. Another person with minor injuries was discharged from the hospital after first aid. The remaining 27 were out of danger, but they will be kept under observation for at least 24 hours more, hospital sources said.
A senior officer of the East Coast Railway at Bhubaneswar said that several trains were diverted via the Naraj station as the rescue operation was in progress, with the arrival of Railway officials and the Railway accident medical van.
Helpline numbers
The Railway authorities said that Helpline numbers 0671-1072 (Cuttack); 0674-1072 (Khurda Road); 18003457401/402 (BBS/Headquarters Office); 0674-1072 (BBS Station); 06752-1072 (Puri) can be contacted for information about the passengers.
Meanwhile, an inquiry into the “rear collision” of the Express train against the brake van of a goods train was ordered by the East Coast Railway. The inquiry will commence on January 18 at the Officers’ Rest House near the entrance of the Cuttack Railway Station, according to an official notification.
