Odisha train accident: Four-member team to help passengers from Bihar

PATNA: Acting at the directive of chief minister Nitish Kumar, the Bihar government on Saturday decided to send a team of four senior officials to Odisha’s Balasore to provide necessary assistance to train passengers hailing from Bihar. These passengers were affected by the train accident on Friday.

The team would coordinate with the Odisha government, railways and Balasore district administration and provide necessary help to the train passengers hailing from Bihar, a communique issued from the chief minister’s office said.

The team comprises director (labour resources) Shyam Bihari Meena, SP (Rail), Muzaffarpur, Kumar Ashish, disaster management department’s OSD Avinash Kumar and the state disaster response force (SDRF) deputy commandant Shaharyar.

The disaster management department secretary Sanjay Kumar Agarwal is monitoring the situation of affected train passengers from Bihar.

The Bihar government has also taken necessary steps to bring back the affected passengers to Bihar from the train accident site in Balasore.

In the first batch, altogether 40 passengers of Bihar were being brought back to the state through a bus. Of the 40 passengers, 24 hail from Araria district, nine from Darbhanga, three from Samastipur and two each from Kishanganj and Sitamarhi district, the communique issued from the CMO said.

The CM expressed grief over the death of a large number of people in the train accident in Balasore district. Extending his condolences over the loss of lives and injuries, Nitish, in a statement issued here, said, “Deeply anguished by the tragic accident involving the Coromandel Express, in Balasore. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.”

Bihar Vidhan Sabha Speaker Awadh Bihari Chaudhary also offered his condolences to the bereaved families who lost their close ones in the tragic rail accident and prayed for the recovery of the injured. In a statement issued by his office, Choudhary, who hails from the RJD, said, “Deeply saddened to hear the unfortunate news of the train accident in Balasore. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families...I pray to God that those injured in the accident get well soon.”
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