Day after accident, train services resume at Korei railway station in Jajpur

Normal train operations resumed at Korei accident site in Bhadrak-Kapilas Road Railway section under Khordha Road Railway Division of East Coast Railway (ECoR) in Jajpur district where a goods train crashed into the waiting hall on Monday morning.

At least three people were killed and several others injured in the mishap.

As per ECoR sources, train operations resumed soon after completion of the restoration works of the affected railway section following the rescue and relief operations. The down line has been readied for train operation.

Officials said the goods train was supposed to slow down while passing by the station, but its speed was high. There were 54 bogies in total and eight bogies jumped onto the platform. A few wagons also hit a footbridge at the station and badly damaged it. The mishap was so severe that a part of the station building, platform, ticket counter and passengers’ restroom were also damaged.

Rescue and relief operations were immediately carried out by local administration and rescue squads following the mishap. The ECoR cancelled 15 trains and diverted 21 trains following the mishap as both the up and down tracks were damaged.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 5 lakh for the kin of the deceased in the train mishap. The Minister has also announced Rs 1 lakh for the severely injured and Rs 25,000 for those who suffered minor injuries.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also expressed grief over the train mishap and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the victims.