ONE of the deadliest rail catastrophes in India's history claimed the lives of more than 280 people and wounded more than 1,000 others on Friday when a passenger train derailed and hit two other trains in eastern India.
India has been shaken by the accident in the city of Balasore in the eastern state of Odisha, prompting further calls for authorities to address safety concerns in a railway system that carries more than 13million people daily.
Despite recent government spending millions to rebuild the train system, years of indifference have allowed the rails to degrade.
Because of this, India's prime minister, Narendra Modi, was scheduled to debut some new high-speed trains today, which is a part of the government's expanded infrastructure investment; instead, he arrived at the scene of the accident.
Before traveling to Odisha to evaluate the damage, Modi presided over a high-level assessment conference and vowed "all possible assistance" for the victims' relatives.
Modi wrote on Twitter: “In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon.”
Follow our India train crash live blog for the latest news and updates…
- By Amanda Castro
Accident occurred during rail modernization plan in India
The incident happened while Prime Minister Narendra Modi was concentrating on modernizing the British colonial-era train network in India, which has over 1.42billion people and has overtaken China as the world's most populated nation.
Several hundred incidents happen annually on India's railroads, the world's largest train network with a single administration, despite government attempts to increase rail safety.
The world, however, hasn't seen a train crash so catastrophic since 2004, when Sri Lanka's Queen of The Sea rail was hit by the Indian Ocean Tsunami.
- By Amanda Castro
Male survivor shares frightening account
A male survivor told India's ANI news agency: "10 to 15 people fell on me when the accident happened and everything went haywire.
"I was at the bottom of the pile.
"I got hurt in my hand and also the back of my neck.
"When I came out of the train bogie, I saw someone had lost their hand, someone had lost their leg, while someone's face was distorted."
- By Amanda Castro
'Distressed by the train accident in Odisha'
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a tweet with thoughts and prayers for those affected by the train collision.
- By Amanda Castro
'The prognosis is not good'
Indian Railways said the two trains involved in the horror were the Coromandel Express and the Howrah Superfast Express.
Director general of the fire department in Odisha Sudhanshu Sarangi said: "A very sad incident and the prognosis is not good."
- By Amanda Castro
Circumstances of the accident
The Coromandel Express collided with the Howrah Superfast Express around 7.30pm on June 2.
More than 200 ambulances were rushed to the devastating scene, according to Odisha's chief secretary Pradeep Jena.
It is understood one passenger train derailed before being struck by a second train on an adjacent track.
Multiple carriages then followed, with countless toppling onto their side.
It's feared many more remain trapped in the wreckage.
- By Amanda Castro
Eyewitness terrifying account
Frightening footage shows onlookers and firefighters scrambling to save those trapped.
An eyewitness said: "I was there at the site and I could see blood, broken limbs and people dying around me."
- By Amanda Castro
Deaths confirmed
Sudhanshu Sarangi, director general of Odisha Fire Services, confirmed 288 bodies have been pulled from the wreckage.
More than 850 are injured, a state government official told AFP on Saturday, with countless others still feared missing.
- By Amanda Castro
Death toll nears 300 in Odisha train crash
At least 288 people have been killed and upwards of 850 injured in the world's deadliest rail disaster in 20 years.
Emergency responders rushed to Odisha's Balasore district in India on Friday evening after two crowded passenger trains collided.
Over 280 people have died in a train collision in OdishaCredit: AFP or licensors
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