The scene of train collision in Odisha state, eastern India, June 2 evening. Photo: ANI

The accident began at around 7pm on Friday when a passenger express train was on its way from West Bengal state to Chennai in the southern state of Tamil Nadu when it derailed in the Balasore, Odisha state. Some carriages of this train were tilted to the side track. Another train traveling in the opposite direction collided head-on with the already derailed train, causing three or four freight carriages to fall off the tracks.

Rescue forces were immediately dispatched to the scene. More than 50 members of the National Disaster Response Force and the Centralized Traffic Control Center were present just half an hour after the accident occurred.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik sent state officials to the accident site to direct the rescue work. 50 ambulances were dispatched to deal with the growing number of victims.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said relatives of each victim killed will receive a compensation of 200,000 rupees (2,400 USD) and each injured person will receive 50,000 rupees (600 USD).

The Railways Ministry has requested an investigation and speeding up the search and rescue at the scene.