Eight Coaches Derailed, 40 Injured LT Express Derails In Odisha

CUTTACK: Eight Coaches of Bhubaneshwar-bound Lokmanya Tilak Express from Mumbai were derailed near Cuttack in Odisha on Thursday. At least 40 people were injured in the accident, six of them critically. The accident took place Salagaon and Nergundi stations at around 7 am on Thursday, officials said.

As a result of heavy fog, the Express train hit a goods train, resulting in the derailment of 8 bogies. Officials present at the site added that while five coaches derailed, three others were displaced from the tracks.

Visuals showed injured passengers being taken to ambulance as the train stopped between Salagaon and Nergundi stations after the collision. A lot of passengers were also seen de-boarding the train with their luggage amid chaos.

All those injured were admitted to a nearby hospital and they are said to be out of danger, officials said. "Four people suffered serious injuries and 11 had minor injuries. Those with serious injuries have been sent to the Cuttack Medical College. All passengers have been evacuated from the site," an official said.

R.D. Bajpai, Director Media, Railway Ministry, said in Delhi: "Eight coaches of Bhubaneswar-Mumbai Lokmanya Tilak Express derailed after it hit the guard van of the goods train near Salagaon at 6.45 a.m." He said the injured passengers have been shifted to nearby hospitals and there were no reports of any casualties. Buses were arranged for all remaining passengers to move to their destination. Cuttack is 10-12 km and Bhubaneswar the terminating station is 35 km away. Following the accident, the traffic on the route has been hampered. Work of restoration of rail traffic has started. Railway has issued Help Line No of BBS/Headquarters.