Odisha train accident: Calls start pouring in at Chennai, Bengaluru

While the Coromandel Express was heading to Chennai, the Howrah Superfast Express had departed from Bengaluru

The Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express and the Yeswanthpur-Howrah Express derailed at around 7 pm on Friday. (Photo: PTI)

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Officials in both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu said they are closely coordinating with Odisha authorities following the train tragedy there.

While the Coromandel Express was heading to Chennai, the Howrah Superfast Express had departed from Bengaluru. According to the sources in South Western Railway (SWR), 994 reserved passengers and about 300 unreserved passengers had boarded the latter from Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal.

The SWR in a statement said, “It is learnt that 2 GS coaches and Brake Van of a train that left from SMVT derailed. As they were unreserved coaches, it will take some time to ascertain identity of passengers.”

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An official said that they were getting several inquiry calls.

In Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister M K Stalin had a telephonic conversation with his Odisha counterpart.

A delegation led by Tamil Nadu’s Transport Minister, S S Sivasankar, will depart from Chennai on Saturday morning for the site of the accident in Odisha.

Also Read | Odisha train accident: Full list of helpline numbers

According to Sivasankar, senior government officials from Tamil Nadu are in constant communication with their Odisha counterparts to organise the necessary assistance and exchange more details about the accident.

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An official in-charge at the MGR Chennai Central Station said a dedicated helpline desk has been set up at the station. “We are still awaiting passenger information,” he said.

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