One person was killed and seven others injured as an express train derailed in Odisha’s Cuttack district on Sunday after 11 coaches of the SMVT Bengaluru-Kamakhya AC Express derailed at Nirgundi near Manguli at 11.54 am. The train was heading to Kamakhya station in Assam’s Guwahati from Bengaluru.

Cuttack’s District Collector Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde, who oversaw the rescue operation, said, “One person died and seven others were injured in the accident.” He said some passengers also fell ill after the accident because of the heat wave conditions prevailing in the area.

“They were treated at a temporary health camp set up at the accident site. Some people who received minor injuries in the accident were also given first aid, declared fit to travel. Around 15 people were given first aid at the health camp,” he said. Shinde said the seven people, whose injuries were serious, were admitted to the state-run SCB Medical College and Hospital (SCB MCH) in Cuttack. “All of them are stable,” he said.

SCB MCH’s administrative officer Subhas Chandra Ray said, “The one person who died is a male. Among the seven injured, three are men and four women.”

An officer of the Odisha fire service, which along with the NDRF assisted the railways following the accident, said the rescue operation has been completed.

The train was heading to Kamakhya station in Assam’s Guwahati from Bengaluru. The accident happened on the down line of the all-important Howrah-Chennai route, affecting railway services, officials said.

Efforts are being made to clear the accident site at the earliest, and the up line has already been made operational, they said. A special train has started its journey to Kamakhya with the stranded passengers from the accident site, they added.

Three trains were diverted because of the derailment. These trains are Dhauli Express, Neelachal Express and Purulia Express. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed concern over the accident, and said, “Authorities are on-site, ensuring assistance and restoring normalcy at the earliest. Help lines activated for support.” The help lines are 8455885999 and 8991124238.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said two persons from his state were injured in the accident and are undergoing treatment. “Both are out of danger,” he said in a social media post.

Sarma said his office was in touch with the Odisha government and the railways. “We will reach out to each and every person who is affected,” he said.

He said there were “no casualties” from Assam in the derailment and that two injured persons from his state undergoing treatment are out of danger.

“Sharing an update on the incident involving Train 12551. There are no casualties from Assam. 2 persons from the State - Willson Digal of Udalguri and Amiran Nisha of Baksa are injured and undergoing treatment. Both are out of danger,” Sarma said in his social media post.

HS Bajwa, Divisional Railway Manager, Khurda Road Division, told reporters that the teams from the NDRF and SDRF are at the accident site.