New Delhi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge called upon political parties from all sides to step up and provide assistance to the injured passengers and the families of the deceased in the Odisha train accident which claimed at least 300 lives and left nearly 1,000 injured.

On Friday evening, a devastating train collision involving three trains—the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, and a goods train--in Balasore, Odisha, resulted in the most fatal train accidents in the past twenty years in India.

As per the latest update, the death toll in the accident has risen to 300 and over 1000 people sustained injuries.

"Irrespective of the political parties, I request them to come forward & help...I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I have to ask many questions to our great PM & Railways Minister. They have to answer why such things are happening and who is responsible for this but today we have to extend relief to the suffering people," said Mr Kharge as quoted by news agency ANI.

Expressing his sadness, the Congress leader and former Railway Minister during the UPA government, Mallikarjun Kharge, took to social media to share his anguish over the train accident.

"Deeply saddened by the terrible train tragedy involving Coromandel Express in Odisha. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims. We urge the authorities to expedite rescue operations and provide relief to the injured. Request Congress workers to provide all possible help," he wrote on Twitter.

The Yashwantpur-Howrah Superfast Express collided with the derailed coaches of the Coromandel Express at around 7 pm on Friday. The Coromandel Express had crashed and fallen onto the opposite track near Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore district, leading to the collision.

Local residents and emergency personnel in a joint effort rescued multiple accident victims trapped under the derailed coaches.

PM Narendra Modi on Saturday reached the site of the railway mishap to take stock of the rescue operation. He also visited the hospitals where the injured passengers are admitted for treatment.

He assured that action will be taken against those responsible for the incident.