The locals helped a lot, they emerged as the real heroes, said Atul Karwal, Director General, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), while speaking about the help his force received in the aftermath of the Odisha train tragedy. "They brought food, water for the personnel as men could not take a hydration break," said Mr Karwal. At least 288 people were killed on Friday when a passenger train went off the tracks and hit another one near the district of Balasore in Odisha.