At least 70 people are reported dead and about 350 injured after a Friday rail disaster in eastern India. A passenger train derailed, and several wagons overturned after being struck by an oncoming train, according to official sources cited by the Indian Press Trust of India.
The incident occurred around 19:20 local time (13:50 GMT) near Bahanaga, a town in Odisha. Rescue teams remain on scene, working to reach those who may still be trapped or injured in the wreckage.
Railway authorities said the derailment happened on a track linking Shalimar, near Kolkata, with Chennai in Tamil Nadu. A second train traveling from Yeswanthpur in Bengaluru toward Howrah collided with the derailed passenger train. A third freight train was also involved in the sequence of events, as reported by local broadcasters and officials.
Eyewitness images show fifteen wagons lying across the tracks, forcing rescuers to cut through debris to reach passengers trapped inside. Rescue operations have involved multiple agencies, including the National Disaster Response Force, Odisha Disaster Emergency Action Force, and a large mobilization of firefighters, paramedics, police, and ambulance units. Officials indicated that work would continue through the night despite adverse conditions.
Odisha’s chief minister announced he would visit regional disaster management offices and the scene the following day to oversee the response efforts. In the meantime, railway authorities have begun coordinating a broad railway traffic adjustment to manage the disruption, with altered routes and suspensions in the region. Officials also announced compensation packages for those affected, including sums allocated for the families of the deceased and for the seriously and lightly injured, though the exact figures were updated as the situation evolved. [Source: NTK news desk, official statements, and local broadcasts]
This crash marks one of India’s most severe rail accidents in recent years. A major derailment in 2016 near the northern region of the country caused a high casualty toll and extensive injuries. Ongoing investigations aim to determine the precise sequence of failures and contributing factors, including track conditions, signaling, and train speeds. [NDTV coverage and official briefings]
Rail safety remains a critical concern in India. The latest data from the National Crime Records Bureau shows that 2020 saw thousands of railway incidents nationwide, with thousands of fatalities and injuries attributed in large part to collisions. The country operates an immense rail network, spanning tens of thousands of kilometers with more than twenty thousand trains and thousands of stations, serving millions of passengers daily. The system ranks as one of the world’s busiest, with India continuing to expand services while grappling with safety challenges. [NCRB figures and official railway statistics]