Bhubaneswar, June 3 (UNI) As many as 261 people were killed and over 900 injured in one of the deadliest train accidents at Bahanaga in Balasore of Odisha on Friday evening.
So far 900 injured passengers, who have been rescued and admitted to various hospitals of the state, are undergoing treatment.
Shalimar-Chennai Coromondal Express collided with a goods train and also with the Yeshwanthpur-Howrah Express near Bahanaga in Balasore District at around 7 PM on Friday.
Meanwhile, Railway Minister Ashiwini Vaishnav said the rescue operation is over and restoration work has started.
He appealed to the people, who gathered at the site of the accident, to vacate the place to help the railway authorities to undertake restoration work.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Railway Minister Ashiwini Vaishnaw, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan visited the accident site and reviewed the situation.
Leaders of various political parties, including BJP state President Manmohan Samal and OPCC President Sarat Patnaik also visited the spot.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who reviewed the situation in Delhi, is also scheduled to visit the accident later on Saturday.
Vaishnaw said now priority is given to the treatment of the injured passengers.
He said a detailed inquiry would be conducted to go into the root of the cause of the accident.
The Railway Minister said the government would ensure that no such incident occurred in future.
Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik ordered for a state mourning for a day.
No state celebration would take place on June 3 throughout the day.
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