Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Odisha to visit the train accident in Balasore. He will also meet the injured in Cuttack hospital held a review meeting, his office said.
He was accompanied by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and was briefed on the situation by both Vaishnaw as well as officers of the disaster management team which worked overnight to rescue people at the site. "Those found guilty will be punished stringently," he said addressing the reporters.
The PM held a review meeting today morning regarding the Odisha train accident which was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other government officials.
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According to the latest reports, 238 people were killed and more than 900 injured in the train crash involving the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and a goods train in Odisha's Balasore district on Friday.
Narendra Modi expressed his condolences in a tweet yesterday, he said, "Distressed by the train accident in Odisha. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. Spoke to Railway Minister @AshwiniVaishnaw and took stock of the situation. Rescue ops are underway at the site of the mishap and all possible assistance is being given to those affected."
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Political party leaders across the nation have expressed their concern over the matter and neighbouring states have offered help.
Reportedly, three National Disaster Response Force units, 4 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force units, over 15 fire rescue teams, 30 doctors, 200 police personnel and 60 ambulances have been mobilised to the site so far.
The officials in Bhubaneshwar reportedly said that 200 ambulances, 50 buses and 45 mobile health units, besides 1,200 personnel, are working at the accident site.
It is said to be one of the deadliest train crashes in the history of the Indian Railways, says the reports
According to reports, Modi had earlier held a meeting in Delhi to review the situation amid the massive ongoing relief-and-rescue operation.
