Train accident in India, at least 120 people died, 850 people injured

Saturday, June 3, 2023 | 07:45:35

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At least 120 people have died and 850 injured in a train collision in the eastern Indian state of Odisha.

Rescue workers work at the site of a passenger train derailment in Balasore, in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, June 2, 2023.

Odisha state chief minister Pradeep Jena told AFP news agency that "the priority now is to rescue (passengers) and provide medical assistance to the injured".

Witnesses and officials told local media that the Coromandel Express passenger train and a goods train collided near Balasore, about 200 km (124 miles) from Odisha's state capital Bhubaneswar.

According to Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena, a second passenger train was also involved in the incident, but the order of events is not yet clear.

Doctors and medical staff rushed to the scene of the train accident.

Tai nạn tàu hỏa ở Ấn Độ, ít nhất 120 người tử vong, 850 người bị thương - Ảnh 1.

A police official in Balasore told AFP that many of the injured were in serious condition, but details were "still unclear as rescue teams are on the scene and people are busy with rescue work".

SK Panda, spokesman at the Jena State Secretariat in Odisha state, told AFP that casualties and the situation at the scene "are still unclear as it is a serious accident".

"We hope that the rescue work will continue until at least tomorrow morning. On our part, we have prepared all major government and private hospitals from the accident site to the state capital to treat the injured," Mr Panda said.

Tai nạn tàu hỏa ở Ấn Độ, ít nhất 120 người tử vong, 850 người bị thương - Ảnh 2.

The spokesman added that 75 ambulances were rushed to the scene of the train collision and several buses were deployed to transport both injured passengers and survivors from the site.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "saddened by the train accident".

Meanwhile, Indian Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw rushed to the scene to assess the situation.

"Rescue teams have been mobilised from Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, National Disaster Response Force, state government teams and air force have also been mobilised. All necessary resources will be mobilised for rescue operations," Mr Vaishnaw tweeted.

Tai nạn tàu hỏa ở Ấn Độ, ít nhất 120 người tử vong, 850 người bị thương - Ảnh 3.

Local media reported images of a train carriage overturned on one side of the tracks with what appeared to be survivors lying on it and locals trying to pull other victims to safety.

Railway accidents are fairly common in India. However, rail safety in the country has improved significantly in recent years thanks to new investments and major technological upgrades.

According to vtv.vn

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