India News Updates: At least 70 dead, 350 injured in Odisha train accident

At least 70 people were killed and more than 350 injured in a horrific triple train crash on Friday in Odisha's Balasore district  involving the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and a goods train, officials said

PM Modi announces ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the kin of the deceased in the train accident in Odisha and Rs 50,000 to the injured.

At least 50 people were killed and more than 350 injured in the horrific crash in Odisha involving the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and a goods train. Helpline numbers set up by South Central Railway:

SCR Hqrs, Rail Nilayam, Secunderabad: 040 - 27788516

Vijayawada Railway station: 0866 - 2576924

Rajahmundry Railway station: 0883 - 2420541

Renigunta Railway station: 9949198414

Tirupati Railway station: 7815915571

CPI MP Binoy Viswam has demanded the resignation of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw following the triple-train accident in Odisha on Friday.

"Government concentrates only on luxury trains. Trains and tracks of common people are neglected. Odisha deaths are the result of it. Rail minister should resign," Viswam said in a tweet.
 

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday expressed deep concern over the Disaster Train accident near Balasore and said that saving the lives of injured passengers is now the top priority of the government.

The Chief Minister visited the SRC Office in the evening and took stock of the situation. Speaking to media persons the CM said that our first priority is to take injured persons to hospitals and save their lives. He will visit the accident site tomorrow morning and review the situation on the spot.

One NDRF team is at the triple-train crash site in Odisha's Balasore district while five more are being rushed to the spot. The estimated strength of these six teams is more than 240 personnel, they said.

The teams are equipped with stretchers, gas cutters, lifting pads, first-aid kits and other equipment, and sniffer dogs, NDRF Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Manoj Kumar Yadav said.
 

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi on Friday expressed sadness over the train tragedy in Odisha and urged party workers and leaders to extend all support needed for rescue efforts.

At least 50 people died and 350 were injured as a three-way accident involving the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Coromandel Express and a goods train on three separate tracks occurred at Bahanagar in Odisha's Balasore district.

In a tweet, Kharge said, "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," the Congress chief said.

Rahul Gandhi expressed anguish over the tragic news of the accident.

"My heart goes out to the bereaved families. Wishing for the speedy recovery of those injured. I urge Congress workers and leaders to extend all support needed for rescue efforts," Gandhi said.

Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi on Friday said he was "extremely distressed" over the Coromandel Express accident in Odisha, in which 179 people were injured and 50 feared killed.

"Extremely distressed by the accident of Chennai-bound Coromandel Express in Odisha. My heart goes (out) to the families who lost their dear ones. May the injured recover fast. All out rescue and relief operations are going on," a Raj Bhavan official tweet quoted him as saying.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday spoke to his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik following the accident of the Coromandel Express train, and announced that he was deputing a four-member panel to coordinate the rescue of Tamils on the train.

Expressing distress over the train accident in Odisha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said rescue operations were underway at the site and all possible assistance was being given to those affected.
 

Ex-gratia compensation to the victims of this unfortunate train accident in Odisha;
₹10 Lakh in case of death,
₹2 Lakh towards grievous and ₹50,000 for minor injuries.

— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw)

Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw rushing to the accident site in Balasore, Odisha. Hundreds are feared to be injured in an accident involving the three trains.

Rushing to the site in Odisha. My prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured and condolences to the bereaved families.
Rescue teams mobilised from Bhubaneswar and Kolkata. NDRF, State govt. teams and Airforce also mobilised.
Will take all hands required for the rescue ops.

— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw)

President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said she was "deeply anguished" by the loss of lives in an unfortunate train accident in Odisha and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
 

At least 50 people died and 350 people were injured as a three way accident involving  Bengaluru-Howrah superfast express, the Coromandel Express and goods train on three separate tracks occurred at Bahanagar in Odisha's Balasore district.
 

Four coaches of the Coromandel Express derailed in Odisha's Balasore district on Friday evening after a head-on collision with a goods train, officials said.

The accident happened around 7.20 pm near Bahanaga Bazar station when the train was on the way to Chennai Central station from the Shalimar station near Kolkata, they said.

Accident relief trains have been dispatched to the spot, a South Eastern Railway official said.

It was not immediately known how many people were injured in the accident.

The state government directed the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action (ODRAF) Force to assist in rescue operations. 

132 injured shifted to Soro CHC, Gopalpur CHC, and Khantapada PHC, said Chief Secretary, Odisha. 

NDRF's 1st team of 22 members from Balasore Railway Station (BLS) already reached the site. Another team from Centralised Traffic Control (CTC) of 32 members started half an hour before.

Major train mishap involving Coromandel Express near Bahanaga Station in Balasore, Odisha.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address a joint meeting of US Congress on June 22 during his state visit.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday filed a Supplementary Chargesheet against five accused in the Coimbatore car bomb blast case of October 2022.

The five men charge-sheeted today have been identified as Umar Faaruq, Firose Khan, Mohamed Thoufeeq, Sheikh Hidayatullah and Sanofar Ali. Six accused were earlier charge-sheeted by the NIA on 20th April 2023, in the case (RC-01/2022/NIA/CHE), under various sections of the UA(P) Act and the Explosive Substances Act.

The Gurugram Cyber Crime Police busted yet another fake call centre in Gurugram and arrested seven persons in connection, police said on Friday.

The accused were nabbed late Thursday evening from a rented house in Sector 67 here when they were making calls and working on their computers, they added.
 

BJP leader Prashanta Roy Basunia was shot dead at Dinhata in West Bengal's Cooch Behar district on Friday. The saffron party has demanded a CBI investigation into the incident.

"It is unfortunate that again one of our party members Prashant Basunia has been shot dead by the assailant goons of TMC. Mamata Banerjee's government knows that in the upcoming election, they are not going to vote so they are trying to create fear to get vote. I demand the resignation of the minister who is in charge of North Bengal development and wants a CBI investigation in the case," BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul said.

Four labours were injured after a roof of an under-construction building collapsed at Inder Enclave Phase 2, Kirari Suleman Nagar, Delhi. Three injured persons have been discharged after first aid and one injured is under treatment. Legal action is being taken in accordance with the law, Delhi Police said.

Heartiest congratulations to our Junior Men's Hockey Team for their splendid victory at the Men's Junior Asia Cup. Their triumph reflects the burgeoning talent and determination that our youth hold. They have made India very proud. pic.twitter.com/r5tdlfduH3

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi)

Slamming Rahul Gandhi, senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Mahesh Jethmalani said, "Rahul Gandhi is either naive, intellectually challenged or politically dishonest."

Rahul Gandhi is either naive, intellectually challenged or politically dishonest. The English definition of the word “secular” is “not connected with religious or spiritual matters”. Therefore, any party which defines itself in terms of a religion or a religious community cannot… pic.twitter.com/KruObZ7kDT

— Mahesh Jethmalani (@JethmalaniM)

"It's not in the hands of the centre, the state should see, power is not in our hands. This is not the subject of the Centre but the state provided that the country is federal," said BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty on wrestler's protest

Khap Mahapanchayat has set a June 9 deadline for the arrest of BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

#BREAKING | Khap Mahapanchayat will continue if WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is not arrested: Rakesh Tikait, National Spokesperson of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) #WrestlersProtests#BrijBhushanSharanSingh https://t.co/6CjsNJ9CEq pic.twitter.com/gnmjJPmYSc

— Republic (@republic)

On Ariha Shah case, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, "We have been requesting Germany to return the child (Ariha Shah) to India. She is an Indian National and she was placed in the custody of Germany's youth welfare in 2021 when she was 7 months old. Now she has been in the foster care home for the past 20 months."

 BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said that he has cancelled his massive rally in Ayodhya due to security reasons. However, he remained silent on charges against him.

"Khap mahapanchayat" underway in Haryana's Kurukshetra to deliberate on next steps to be taken in the agitation pertaining to wrestlers' issue.

Sensex climbs 118.57 points to settle at 62,547.11. The Nifty advanced to 46.35 points to 18,534.10. 

Concerned that the protesting wrestlers can take the extreme step of immersing their medals into holy river Ganga, members of the 1983 World Cup winning cricket team on Friday urged the elite athletes not to take a hasty decision and hoped their grievances will be heard and resolved.

"We are distressed and disturbed at the unseemly visuals of our champion wrestlers being manhandled. We are also most concerned that they are thinking of dumping their hard earned medals into river Ganga. Those medals have involved years of effort, sacrifice,  determination, and grit and are not only their own but the nation's pride and joy. We urge them not to take any hasty decision in this matter and also fervently hope that their grievances are heard and resolved quickly. Let the law of the land prevail," they said.

Defending the over 50-year-old Congress alliance with Indina Union Muslim League (IUML) in Kerala, the former party president Rahul Gandhi stated that the Muslim League is a secular party and there is nothing non-secular about them. Notably, Congress with the Muslim league has remained in the opposition in Kerala in two back-to-back terms in 2016 and 2021. Both parties are allies in the state for over five decades. READ FULL STORY HERE. 

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared a video of the new Vande Bharat Express passing through the Konkan tunnel. The train shown in the video in Goa-Mumbai en route Vande Bharat which is scheduled to be inaugurated tomorrow (June 3) by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

In the video, the train can be seen crossing through the long Konkan tunnels which are located at geographically difficult terrain. This route of this Vande Bharat captured beautiful scenery as it passes from between the forest surrounded by greenery. READ FULL STORY HERE. 

Delhi Police have filed two FIRs and 10 complaints against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh based on sexual harrassment allegations by wrestlers. Republic TV has now accessed the details of these two FIRs and complaints against the WFI president. According to the two FIRs, the WFI boss has been accused of demanding sexual favours. Further, at least 10 complaints of molestation have also been registered against Brij Bhushan Singh. READ FULL STORY HERE. 

One in six unvaccinated individuals report experiencing COVID-19 healthi effects up to two years after infection, according to a new study published in the British Medical Journal. 

The study from University of Zurich, Switzerland, and other institutes examined 1,106 unvaccinated adults with an average age of 50 with a confirmed infection between 6 August 2020, and 19 January, 2021, were studied, along with 628 adults (average age 65) randomly selected from the general population who had not had the virus. READ FULL STORY HERE. 

Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' who is currently on his visit to India, arrived at the Mahakal Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.

#WATCH | Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' arrives at the Mahakal Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. pic.twitter.com/vu8wWMOynC

— ANI (@ANI)

The Jammu Pathankot National Highway blocked in Kathua by protesters against demolition drive by the district administration. Protestors allege that demolition was being carried without any notice. 

Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagwant Mann on Friday, June 2 reached Ranchi to meet Hemant Soren over ordinance. There, they will meet Hemant Soren, the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, to sollicity his support in their opposition to the ordinance governing the management of administrative services in the capital. About 9 pm, the two chief minsters arrived from Chennai on a special flight. They will meet Soren on Friday, and the three leaders will hold a press conference after their Friday meeting with Soren. 

The Jan Chetna Maharally called in Ayodhya in support of Brijbhushan Sharan Singh has been cancelled. MP and WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh had claimed 11 lakh people to gather and support the rally to be held on June 5. The WFI chief shared a Facebook Post informing about the same. 

Speaking on a recent 'moral policing' case in Mangaluru, Karnataka Minister G Parameshwara said, "Anything against the law, the law will its own course of action. Police is there to take action and we will do that. If (there is) anything against the law, we will definitely take action, whatever it may be." 

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpakamal Dahal Prachanda arrived in Madhya Pradesh on Friday as part of his two-day visit to the state.Prachanda and his delegation arrived at the Indore airport, where they were given a warm welcome by state Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his cabinet colleagues Tulsiram Silawat, Usha Thakur and Indore BJP MP Shankar Lalwani. 

A house was collapsed due to landslide in Drubeel area of Kishtwar on Friday, June 2. The incident occurred due to continuous rainfall for past couple of days. No loss of life reported. 

Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman Tahawwur Rana has filed a writ of habeas corpus challenging a recent US court order that paved the way for his extradition to India where he is facing trial for his involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack. Last month, the US District Court Central District of California approved the extradition of the 26/11 attack accused Rana to India. READ FULL STORY. 

The Rajasthan government on Friday transferred seven Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and 30 Indian Police Service (IPS) officers. IGs of two ranges and SPs in eight districts were also changed. According to the orders issued by the department of personnel, Agriculture Commissioner Kana Ram has been made Director (Secondary Education) Bikaner while ML Chauhan, Joint Secretary in the Higher Education Department. READ FULL STORY HERE. 

The Maharashtra Secondary School Certificate (SSC) class 10 exam results have been declared by the State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) today. Candidates who appeared for the exam can check their results online. A total of 93.83% of students have passed. Konkan district has the highest pass percent. READ FULL STORY HERE. 

While addressing the nation on the occassion of the 350th anniversay of the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, PM Modi said, "This day is celebrated like a festival all over Maharashtra. When the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj took place, it carried the slogan of Swaraj and the cheer of nationalism."

Members of Karnataka State Contractors Association who made '40% corruption' allegations against the previous BJP government in the state meet CM Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru, under the leadership of the Association's president D Kempanna.

More thatn three fourth of people in India surveyed are willing to delegate as much work as possible to Artificial Intelligence (AI), a Microsoft report said on Thursday. 

According to Microsoft Work Trend Index 2023 report, 90 per cent of Indian leaders believe that the employees they hire would need new skills to be prepared for the growth of AI. READ FULL STORY HERE. 

The law Commission of India has said it is of the considered view that Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) dealing with sedtion law needs to be retained. In its report, the commission, however, believes that certain amendments could be introduced to provide better clarity on the application of this provision. While acknowledging that sedition is a "colonial legacy," the commission strongly stated that this alone is not a sufficient reason to repeal it. The panel will hand over the report to Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. Here are the recommendations made by the Law Commission. READ FULL STORY HERE. 

1984 anti-Sikh riots | Delhi's Rouse Avenue court transfers the supplementary charge sheet against Congress' Jagdish Tytler, along with sanction, for the prosecution to Special MP-MLA court. The court will hear the matter on June 8.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah holds a meeting of senior officers of the state government before the state cabinet meeting. The state cabinet to take a decision on the five promises made by the state government in the cabinet meeting soon.

The Delhi Police said it has registered 10 complaints and two FIRs against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, over sexual harassment allegations by the protesting wrestlers. 

#BREAKING | FIR files against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh that alleges sexual harassment; Republic accesses the details of FIR.#WFI #BrijBhushanSharanSingh #WrestlersProtests https://t.co/6CjsNJ9CEq pic.twitter.com/KyYuSty9yb

— Republic (@republic)

#BREAKING | On the auspicious occasion of Telangana Formation Day, Telangana CM KCR pays floral tribute to martyrs. #KCR #TelanganaFormationDay #Telangana https://t.co/6CjsNJ9CEq pic.twitter.com/BNvHRlqtIO

— Republic (@republic)

Birthday of Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan celebrated at the Raj Bhavan during the #TelanganaFormationDay celebrations here. The Governor also offered cake to the leaders of the 1969 Telangana Agitation who are participating in the Statehood Day celebrations here. 

On 1st June, Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral R Hari Kumar interacted with the cadets of King Fahd Naval Academy, Saudi Arabia undergoing sea training at Southern Naval Command in Kochi. 55 cadets of the Royal Saudi Naval Force (RSNF) along with five Directing Staff are attached with the First Training Squadron ships, INS Tir and INS Sujata as part of afloat training with the Indian Navy.

The construction of the Ram Lalla idol in Ayodhya is underway, and the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust, repsonsible for the temple construction, has announced that a seven-day-long Pran-Pratishtha ceremony will be held to install the idol in the temple in early 2024. The trust is also planning to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to preside over the week-long-Pran-Pratishtha ceremony. While the dates have yet to be finalised, the Trust intends to apprise the Prime Minister of the probable dates between December 2023 and January 25, 2024. READ FULL STORY HERE. 

A man was arrested on Thursday for allegedly threatening a woman to kill her if she did not marry him and convert to Islam in Udaipur district of Rajasthan, police said. 

He has been identfied as Mohammad Asif, they said, adding his father and brother too were arrested for threatening the woman's brother when he raised the issue with them. READ FULL STORY HERE. 

#WATCH | J&K | One terrorist killed in an encounter with security forces in Rajouri's Dassal forest area. A search operation is underway.

Security checks are being done.

(Visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/IzfXtJ2xzw

— ANI (@ANI)

Rajasthan has recieved 62.4 mm rainfall in May this time, the highest for the month in the past over 100 years, the Indian Meterological Department said on Thursday. 

The state generally receives an average of 13.6 mm of rainfall in May. But this time, due to multiple western disturbances-weather systems that originate in the Mediterranean region and bring unseasonal rainfall to northwest India and other reasons, it rained a total of 62.4 mm. READ FULL STORY HERE. 

The law commission has said it is of the considered view that section 124A of the Indian Penal Code dealing with sedition needs to be retained, though certain amendments could be introduced to bring about great clarity regarding usage of the provision. 

In its report submitted to the government, the panel said cognizant of the views on the misuse of Section 124A, it recommends that model guidelines curbing them be issued by the Centre. READ FULL STORY HERE. 

Police have recovered the knife allegedly used by 20-year-old Sahil to kill a teenage girl in northwest Delhi's Shahbad Dairy area, police said on Thursday. 

A senior police officer said the accused's police custody was extended for three more days by the court on Thursday. He was again questioned and on his instance, the weapon of offence was recovered, the officer added. READ FULL STORY HERE. 

Rahul Gandhi, currently on his US tour, expressed confidence in the unity of the Opposition in India and said that significant progress is being made on the ground. During a Thursday conversation at the National Press Club in Washington DC, Gandhi emphasised the emergence of a hidden undercurrent that he believes will "surprise" the people in the upcoming 2024 elections. In addition, he discussed his party's ongoing communication and collaboration with fellow opposition forces.  READ FULL STORY HERE. 

The Telangana Formation Day celebrations are being held at Golconda fort on Friday, June 2. It is being organised by the Central government. The celebration will see the attendance of a wide section of people who played an active role in the struggle for statehood, Union minister for culture G. Kishan Reddy said.

#WATCH | Union Minister G Kishan Reddy unfurls the national flag at Golconda Fort in Hyderabad, at an event on the occasion of #TelanganaFormationDay pic.twitter.com/HWJlNu3sNY

— ANI (@ANI)

#WATCH | Jammu & Kashmir: Encounter underway in Rajouri's Dassal forest area: Army officials

(Visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/5rzfrLjmDf

— ANI (@ANI)