In a tragic train accident that occurred in Balasore district of Odisha on Friday, claiming the lives of over 230 people, there is a glimmer of hope amidst the devastation. Railway officials have confirmed that the reserved coaches of the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, involved in the crash, have miraculously emerged unscathed with no reported injuries or fatalities. However, a few passengers in the General Seating (GS) coach did sustain minor injuries.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) director general, Atul Karwal, expressed optimism that more survivors could still be found as rescue teams continue their operations. The overturned GS and SLRD (Brake Van) coaches are currently being restored, and rescue efforts are ongoing.
The collision, which claimed the lives of at least 238 people and left over 900 injured, involved the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, and a goods train. Officials from the South Western Railways (SWR) revealed that a total of 994 reserved and approximately 300 unreserved passengers had boarded the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express from Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVB) in the city.
A Remarkable Miracle: Reserved Coaches of Bengaluru-Howrah Train Witness No Injuries or Fatalities in the Odisha Train Tragedy
Authorities stated that two GS coaches and the Brake Van of the express train derailed. Since these were unreserved coaches, it will take some time to determine the identities of the passengers. However, the details of passengers in reserved coaches, including contact numbers, are readily available in the database, as they are registered during the ticket reservation process. As further updates are received, additional information will be shared with the public.
According to a report from Balasore, the unaffected portion of the train, with passengers on board, has already departed towards its destination, Howrah. The update mentioned, “The unaffected portion of Tr.No.12864 (engine plus 20 coaches) was deemed fit to run with a speed restriction of 10 km/h at 00:58 hrs, and the rake arrived at Balasore at 03:42 hrs.”
Following the detachment of the damaged coach from the rake at Balasore, the remaining 19 coaches, with passengers still aboard, resumed their onward journey towards Howrah at 05:08 am, albeit with a speed restriction of 40 km/h, as indicated in the update.
As the nation mourns the loss of lives in this tragic incident, the fortunate survival of passengers in the reserved coaches of the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express serves as a beacon of hope. While the process of recovery and restoration continues, the resilience and determination of the rescue teams offer solace to those affected by this devastating train tragedy.A heart-wrenching train accident unfolded in Balasore district of Odisha on Friday, claiming the lives of over 230 individuals.
Amidst the sorrow and devastation, a glimmer of hope emerged as railway officials confirmed that the reserved coaches of the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, involved in the crash, miraculously remained unharmed, with no injuries or fatalities reported. However, a few passengers in the General Seating (GS) coach sustained minor injuries during the incident.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) director general, Atul Karwal, expressed cautious optimism, stating that rescue teams continue to search for survivors, hoping to find more live victims amidst the wreckage. Efforts to restore the overturned GS and SLRD (Brake Van) coaches are currently underway, as rescue operations persist.
The collision, involving the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, and a goods train, resulted in the tragic loss of at least 238 lives, while leaving over 900 individuals injured. Officials from the South Western Railways (SWR) disclosed that a total of 994 reserved passengers and approximately 300 unreserved passengers had boarded the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express from Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVB) in Bengaluru.
Authorities reported that two GS coaches and the Brake Van of the express train derailed during the incident. Since these were unreserved coaches, identifying the passengers may take some time. However, detailed information, including contact numbers, of the passengers in the reserved coaches is readily available in the database, as they are registered during the ticket reservation process. Further updates will be provided to the public as more information becomes available.
A report from Balasore indicated that the unaffected portion of the train, carrying passengers, has already resumed its journey towards Howrah, the intended destination. The update revealed, “The unaffected portion of Tr.No.12864 (engine plus 20 coaches) was deemed fit to continue with a speed restriction of 10 km/h and arrived at Balasore at 03:42 hrs.”
After detaching the damaged coach from the train rake at Balasore, the remaining 19 coaches, with passengers still aboard, resumed their onward journey towards Howrah at 05:08 am, adhering to a speed restriction of 40 km/h.
As the nation mourns the loss of lives in this tragic incident, the fact that passengers in the reserved coaches of the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express emerged unscathed brings a ray of hope amidst the darkness. While the process of recovery and restoration continues, the resilience and unwavering commitment of the rescue teams offer solace to those affected by this devastating train tragedy.