Odisha three-train accident leaves 288 dead, more than 800 injured, rescue ops ends

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached the site of the railway mishap on Saturday and inspected the ground situation.

PM Modi assured that action will be taken against those responsible for the incident.

The Twitter handle of the Press Information Bureau said: " PM @narendramodi at the site of #BalasoreTrainAccident where he reviewed the ongoing relief works. He interacted with local authorities, personnel from the disaster relief forces and railways officials."

The crash involved the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, and a goods train.

The accident occurred when one train rammed so hard into another that carriages were lifted high into the air, twisting and then smashing off the tracks. Another carriage had been tossed entirely onto its roof, crushing the passenger section.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said a high-level committee will be set up to investigate the train crash.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has declared one-day state mourning in view of the horrific train crash.

Vaishnaw has announced a compensation of Rs. 10 lakhs for the families of those who have died, Rs. 2 lakhs for those seriously injured, and Rs. 50,000 for those who sustained minor injuries in the accident.

PM Modi too expressed his distress over the accident and announced a compensation of Rs. 2 lakhs for the family of the dead and ₹ 50,000 for the injured from the PM's National Relief Fund (PMNRF).

As many as 48 trains have been cancelled following the horrific accident, 39 diverted and 10 trains have been short-terminated on the Howrah-Chennai main line in the Kharagpur division of the South Eastern Railway.