Jajpur, November 21
A goods train derailed at Korai railway station in Odisha’s Jajpur district on Monday morning, with wagons ploughing into waiting passengers, killing at least three of them and injuring seven, officials said.
East Coast Railway (ECoR) officials said the accident took place at around 6.44am when some people were waiting at the platform and the waiting hall for a passenger train.
He said two women are among the three deceased.
The two women were mother and daughter while a two-and-half-year-old child with them miraculously survived, the man who lost his wife and daughter said.
A senior police officer said they suspect that more people might be trapped underneath the debris.
The number of fatalities may go up as some people have been seriously injured, railway officials said, adding that the station building was damaged.
In videos that have gone viral on social media, derailed wagons were seen strewn across both platforms with axles lying on the railway tracks.
Some wagons were seen damaging one entrance of the foot-over-bridge, while others tearing apart overhead power wires and demolishing buildings of the railway station.
Locals were seen giving a hand to rescue teams in clearing the debris and looking for bodies and injured persons beneath it.
Apart from Railways, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force, Fire Services and locals are engaged in the rescue operations, an official said.
Meanwhile, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia for the next of kin of the deceased, Rs 1 lakh for the seriously injured and Rs 25,000 for those sustaining minor injuries.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of lives in the Korai train accident. Announcing a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the families of the deceased, Rs 1 lakh to the seriously injured and Rs 25,000 to those sustaining minor injuries,” he tweeted in Odia.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed deep condolences and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased and free treatment for the injured.
