Lokmanya Tilak Express hits Goods train, 40 injured

Bhubaneswar:At least 40 passengers were injured,  five of them critically,when 12879 Lokmanya Tilak  Express hit the  guard van of a Goods train near Salagaon atabout  0700 hours today.

East Coast Railway(ECoR) Sources here  said the accident  occurred  between Salagon and Nergundi due to  heavy fog at the site  and  eight coaches were  involved in the accident.Senior railway officials  confirmed  that there has been no casualty and all the injured 

passengers have been  admitted to the  local hospital .

The rescue operation was affected  due to heavy fog at the accident site. Only five coaches  were derailed and  three coaches were  displaced  from the track.All the coaches  of the train  were checked  one  by one and no further injury of the passengers  found.

The ECoR  has  issued  helpline  number of  18003457401/402 and Bhubaneswar station ? 0674-1072, Puri-06752-1072.The East Coast  Railways  acknowledges with deep  gratitude  help  of nearby  local  people and villagers  who have displayed  great humanitarian  values and  come  to the rescue operation.

The 12800 Bhubaneswar- LTT  Express,  58132 Puri- Rourkela passenger,18426 Durg- Puri Express,12831 Dhanbad- Bhubaneswar Rajyarani Express and 68413 Talcher -Puri Memu have been diverted  via Naraj station following the  accident.(UNI)