Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the major train accident in Odisha in which around 900 people are injured and 233 have died.
The Prime Minister spoke to Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and is taking stock of the situation and said all possible assistance is being given to the affected.
Coromandel Express, which was going from Kolkata to Chennai, rammed into the derailed coaches of the other train, which was going from Bengaluru to Kolkata, Railway Ministry spokesperson Amitabh Sharma told NDTV.
The details of the two trains are 12841 Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express and 12864 Yashwantpur-Howrah Superfast Express.
President Droupadi Murmu said she's "Deeply anguished to know about the loss of lives in an unfortunate rail accident in Balasore, Odisha."
Vice President Jagadeep Dhankhar also tweeted: "Deeply anguished by the loss of lives in a train accident in Balasore, Odisha"
Home Minister Amit Shah informed that National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has reached the spot and will be joining the rescue operation.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said rescue teams from Bhubaneswar and Kolkata have been mobilised and the air force has been mobilised as well. The minister said he is rushing to the spot.
Helpline numbers have been issued by the authorities and over a hundred National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel have been involved in the rescue operations.
Helpline numbers at Howrah - 033 - 26382217
Kharagpur Helpline 8972073925, 9332392339
Balasore Helpline - 8249591559, 7978418322
Shalimar Helpline - 9903370746
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