India Train Accident News 2023 : Odisha Train Collision

India Train Accident News 2023 : Odisha Train Collision

Triple train crash in Odisha's Balasore

On 2 June 2023, three trains collided near the city of Balasore, in the state of Odisha in eastern India. Two passenger trains, the 12841 Coromandel Express and the 12864 SMVT Bengaluru–Howrah SF Express, collided after an initial collision involving a goods train near the Bahanaga Bazar railway station. At least 275 people were killed in the crash, and more than 1,175 others were injured in the incident. It is the deadliest rail accident since 2004 and India's worst rail crash since the 1999 Gaisal train disaster.

Date	2 June 2023 around 19:00 IST (13:30 UTC)
Location	Near Bahanaga Bazar railway station, Balasore, Odisha
Coordinates	21°20′17″N 86°45′52″E
Country	India
Operator	Indian Railways
Incident type	Derailment, double collision

Trains	3 trains A goods train 12841 Coromandel Express 12864 SMVT Bengaluru–Howrah Superfast Express
Deaths	288
Injured	1,200+

At about 7 pm IST local time (13:30 GMT) on 2 June 2023, two passenger trains, the 12841 Coromandel Express (between Shalimar and MGR Chennai Central) and the 12864 SMVT Bengaluru–Howrah SF Express (between SMVT Bengaluru and Howrah), collided on the Howrah–Chennai Main Line near Bahanaga Bazar in Balasore district in the eastern state of Odisha. A goods train was also involved in the crash.

The Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express had received signal indication to move on to the mainline towards Chennai, but it was wrongly switched to a loop line where the goods train was waiting. The goods train was carrying iron ore, and did not derail or move. The Coromandel Express crashed into the goods train at a speed of above 100kmph, so hard that its engine climbed the goods train and 22 carriages packed with passengers derailed. Three of the derailed coaches careened into parallel tracks and whiplashed the tail end of the 12864 Sir M Visveswaraya Terminal Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express crossing the station at the same time.

The crash was India's deadliest railway crash in more than 20 years.

Two unreserved coaches and the brake van of SMVT Bengaluru–Howrah SF Express were derailed. The portion of the train remaining on the rails, which included the engine and 20 coaches, left with its passengers and continued to Howrah. At Balasore, a further (damaged) coach was detached and the remaining 19 coaches continued their journey. It was reported that the reserved compartments of SMVT Bengaluru–Howrah SF Express sustained no fatalities or injuries to passengers. Officials said that ascertaining the identification of passengers on the unreserved coaches will take time.