Rail accident in Balasore, Odisha
On 2 June 2023, three trains collided near the city of Balasore in the state of Odisha in eastern India. Two passenger trains, 12841 Shalimar - MGR Chennai Central Coromandel Express and 12864 SMVT Bengaluru - Howrah SF Express, collided near Bahnaga Bazar railway station following an initial collision with a goods train. At least 275 people were killed and more than 1,175 others were injured in the accident.
The Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express was signaled to proceed along the mainline towards Chennai, but it was mistakenly diverted to a loop line where a goods train was waiting. The goods train was carrying iron ore, and did not derail or move. The Coromandel Express traveling at 128 km/h (80 mph) collided with the freight train. The impact was so powerful that the engine of the passenger train was sent over the goods train and 22 carriages filled with passengers were derailed. Three of the derailed coaches fell on the parallel tracks and the rear portion of the Bengaluru-Howrah Express, which was crossing the station at the same time, was hit by a stone.
The accident was India's deadliest rail accident in more than 20 years, and the deadliest worldwide since the 2004 Sri Lanka tsunami train wreck.
Two unreserved coaches and brake van of the Bengaluru-Howrah Express derailed. The rest of the train, consisting of the engine and 20 coaches, along with its passengers proceeded to Balasore, where another (damaged) coach was diverted. The remaining 19 coaches continued their journey to Howrah, the final destination of the train. It was informed that there was no death or injury to the passengers in the reserved coaches of the Bengaluru-Howrah Express. Officials said it would take time to ascertain the identity of the passengers in the unreserved coaches.
Railways announced that they would pay ₹10 lakh ($13495) to the families of the dead, ₹2 lakh ($2699) to the seriously injured and ₹50,000 ($675) to those with minor injuries. In addition, an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF will be given to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured.