“Never expected that I would see this kind of horrific accident in my life. Dead bodies all around, many limbless, people screaming for help stuck inside the coaches. I saw people with dismembered limbs and disfigured faces. This incident will haunt me for my whole life,” Samanth Jain, 40, a native of Chikkamagaluru district in Karnataka who survived the train crash in Odisha on June 2 told The Hindu.
Odisha train accident live updates
He, along with 110 people from Karnataka, was on ‘Shikharji Yatra,’ a pilgrimage to the holiest Jain teerth. Recalling the incident, he said, “Around 8.30 p.m., the train suddenly stopped when we were all busy doing the pooja part of the yatra. Everyone was confused. Just a few minutes before stopping, we heard a loud noise which was similar to a vehicle accident. We all started to get down and walked at least three kilometres towards the back of the train, and then we saw a horrific accident where three or four coaches were on top of each other and twisted steel, with passengers’ belongings strewn all over.”
“Since it was pitch dark, using the mobile flashlight, we went near the coaches where people were screaming and I saw limbs scattered all around … many people’s faces were disfigured and dead bodies all over,” Mr. Jain added.
Another Karnataka native passenger, Praveen Jain said, “The train suddenly jerked after applying a heavy break. Almost for 30 minutes, we didn’t know anything. Later people started to talk about the accident. All were confused and were in fear. Then we went back to the train, and there were many local villagers helping with the rescue and they were pulling out dead bodies from the derailed coaches with the help of ladders.”
All 110 people were travelling from Bengaluru as part of the yatra in the Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVB) - Howrah Superfast Express. According to survivors of the train accident, the remaining coaches, which were not affected by the accident were taken to another station with the help of diesel engines.
“Now, we are heading to Kolkata, we are not out of shock, and ladies and children with us are in fear since we saw a horrific accident,” Mr. Praveen said on Saturday afternoon, while adding that they boarded the train from Bengaluru on June 1 and all of the 110 people from Karnataka, most of them are natives of Kalasa and Horanadu in Chikkamagaluru district, are said to be safe.
Karnataka CM deputes team led by Minister
In the wake of the accident, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah appointed Labour Minister Santosh Lad and a team of officials to coordinate the rescue of people from the State on the train.
As per the official release, the Chief Minister stated that Mr. Lad, along with Manoj Rajan, Commissioner for Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority and other officials have reached Odisha.
Passengers from Karnataka safe: Railways
Meanwhile, the South Western Railways (SWR) on June 3 morning said in an update that all passengers are safe, barring a few passengers who suffered injuries.
SWR had said that 994 reserved passengers and around 300 unreserved are estimated to have boarded from Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal in the city in SMVB - Howrah Express.
In a statement, SWR officials said, “No one from the reserved coaches got injured or died. A few passengers from the General Second (GS) coaches had some injuries. The capsized GS and Second Class Luggage Rake for Disabled (SLRD), (Brake Van) are still being restored. Rescue works are on.”
In a statement on Saturday evening, SWR added, “On Train No 12864 (SMVB - Howrah Express), 33 passengers sustained minor injuries and one sustained grievous injury. None belonging to Karnataka. As per available reports, among those who died, no passenger belongs to Karnataka.”
Helpline numbers
The State Emergency Operation Centre has set up a helpline for the convenience of the public. The helpline numbers are 1070, 080-22253707 and 080-22340676.
Helplines numbers set up by South Western Railways: Bengaluru: 080-22356409; Bangarpet: 08153 255253; Kuppam: 8431403419; Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya Terminal, Bengaluru: 09606005129; Krishnarajapuram railway station, Bengaluru: +91 88612 03980.
