Goa-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express launch ceremony cancelled after Odisha train mishap
New Delhi/IBNS: The ceremony to flag off Goa-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express at Madgaon station has been cancelled in the wake of the massive accident involving three trains in Odisha's Balasore.
At least 50 people were killed and 300 were injured when a passenger train hit the derailed coaches of another train in Odisha's Balasore on Friday evening. Many are feared trapped and the casualties may rise, officials said. A third freight train was also involved in the accident.
A passenger express train met with a massive accident near Bahanaga railway station in Odisha's Balasore district. At least eight bogies of 12841 Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express derailed after colliding with a freights train on Friday evening. Many feared dead #trainaccident… pic.twitter.com/SdL0squEuF
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to flag off the Goa-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express through a video link on Saturday morning and in the physical presence of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnawnat Madgaon station.
However, Vaishnaw was now heading for the accident site in Odisha and the ceremony was cancelled, officials said.
At least 15 coaches of the 12841 Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express derailed in Odisha's Balasore while two of the 12864 Yashwantpur-Howrah Superfast Express derailed.
The accident took place around 7.20 pm near Bahanaga Bazar station in Odisha's Balasore.
