171 killed, more than 800 wounded in Indian train accident

By Firdevs Bulut Kartal

TORONTO (AA) - The death toll increased to 171 in a train crash in the Indian state of Orissa that has left more than 800 injured, authorities said Friday.

The causalities occurred in the accident at 19.20 local time Thursday in the Balasore region near the Bahanaga Bazar Train Station.

Three trains were involved in the crash. Two carried passengers while one was hauling freight, according to The Hindu newspaper.

The passenger trains belonged to Coromandel Express and Yashwatpur-Howrah Ekspress, said officials.

A total of 179 people who were injured were hospitalized and more than 600 are still on the train. Search and rescue teams continue to work to free trapped passengers.

More than 75 ambulances and 500 policemen were sent to the area to support efforts, said Pradeep Jena, top bureaucrat in Odisha state.

President Draupadi Murmu said she is deeply saddened by the accident and shares the pain of families who lost loved ones.

"May the injured recover soon,” tweeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who said he spoke to the railway minister and assured that “all possible assistance” was being offered to those affected by the crash.