Odisha Train Tragedy: Death Toll Revised Again To 288

Bhubaneswar: The death toll in Friday’s rail accident at Bahanaga in Balasore district of Odisha has been revised to 288. Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena told media persons at Bhubaneswar today that the new number was reached following verification of bodies, death of a few grievously injured patients, and updates from district collectors. Earlier, the state government had reduced the death toll from 288 to 275 citing cases of double counting of bodies.

Meanwhile, the CBI today began an investigation into the alleged criminal negligence after it registered a First Information Report (FIR) in the Balasore train accident. A team of CBI officers arrived at the accident site and inspected the tracks, signal room, and spoke to railway officials at Bahanaga.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the injured passengers of the ill-fated Coromandel Express who are currently admitted in different hospitals in Cuttack of Odisha. She said 103 bodies of passengers from West Bengal who died in the accident have so far been identified while 30 were still missing.  Banerjee said she wants the truth behind the accident to come out.