Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik to visit Balasore today

Naveen Patnaik, the chief minister of Odisha, will travel to Balasore on Saturday morning to assess the situation there after two passenger trains and a goods train collided, inflicting numerous injuries.

“It was a tragic train accident involving three trains — two passenger trains and one goods train,” said Pradeep Jena, chief secretary of Odisha. “There have been casualties, but we haven’t yet counted.”

“Our first priority is to take injured persons to hospitals and save their lives,” Patnaik said in a statement to the media. “I have just reviewed the situation about this truly tragic railway accident, and I will be visiting the spot tomorrow morning.”

Collectors have been ordered to make sure that all the passengers are safe because other trains will be stopped in areas that are along the impacted lines.

According to the development commissioner for Odisha, “They have been told to provide them with whatever facilities are required including water, sanitation, security, food, etc. at places where such trains may have stopped. Funds to be met from CMRF.”