NEW DELHI: The catastrophic three-train accident in Odisha’s Balasore had cost the lives of 35 people from West Bengal, while 544 suffered injuries, the state government said on Saturday.
“As of now, 35 passengers from West Bengal lost their lives in the accident, while another 544 were injured. The numbers are likely to go up,” a state government official said.
Out of the 35, 12 were from South 24 Parganas district, 8 from Purba Bardhaman district, 3 from Paschim Medinipur district, 2 each from Howrah, Jalpaiguri, Murshidabad and Jhargram districts, while the rest belong to Birbhum, Dakshin Dinajpur and Malda district.
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With most of the passengers belonging to West Bengal, the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government was quick to react to the incident. The state government had deputed two senior IAS officers from Kolkata to Medinipur. This will be in addition to the four IAS officers who were stationed at Balasore to coordinate the relief effort.
The official also added that a train carrying 700 passengers from Balasore is set to arrive at Howrah station on Saturday night.
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“Medical facilities have been put in place. Paschim Medinipur District Magistrate and SP will be present at Kharagpur station to extend support to the passengers,” a government official said.
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The official said 33 of the 635 passengers who were brought back to Kolkata on the Bengaluru-Howrah Express on Saturday afternoon needed medical help.
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“They were given first aid at Howrah station. One passenger was referred to BR Singh Hospital,” he said.
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