INDIA
The NDRF jawan sent the 'live location' of the site on WhatsApp to the NDRF control room, and this was used by the first rescue teams to reach the spot official said.
An on-leave NDRF jawan travelling on the Coromandel Express was perhaps the first person to alert emergency services about the train's accident in Odisha's Balasore before he joined initial rescue efforts, officials said on Saturday.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) jawan Venkatesh NK was on leave and travelling from Howrah in West Bengal to Tamil Nadu. He had a narrow escape as his coach B-7, though derailed did not collide with coaches ahead of it, the officials said. He was in a third AC coach and his seat number was 58.
The 39-year-old, posted with the NDRF's 2nd battalion in Kolkata, first called his senior inspector in the battalion to inform him about the accident. He then sent the "live location" of the site on WhatsApp to the NDRF control room, and this was used by the first rescue teams to reach the spot, they said.
"I felt a massive jolt...And then I saw some passengers in my coach falling down. I brought the first passenger out and seated him in a shop near the railway track...I then rushed to help others," Venkatesh told PTI from on board a relief train that is taking him to Chennai.
He said locals, including a medical shop owner, were the "real saviours" as they helped the victims with whatever was available with them. The Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express entered a wrong track and hit a stationary goods train on Friday. Its coaches got scattered all around including on an adjoining track and another passenger train -- Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express -- coming at a high speed rammed into them and derailed.
READ | Odisha train accident: Anti-train collision system ‘Kavach’ was not available on the route
The worst rail accident in India in nearly three decades has left at least 288 people dead and over 1,100 injured. The crash involving the two passenger trains, which were carrying around 2,300 passengers, occurred near the Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore, about 170 km north of Bhubaneswar.
"The jawan Venkatesh was travelling in the Coromandel Express as he was going on leave to his home in Tamil Nadu. He rang up his seniors in Kolkata as soon as the accident took place. That phone call was probably the first that alerted the NDRF which subsequently informed the local administration too," an official said.
The jawan, who joined the NDRF in 2021 from the Border Security Force (BSF), said he used his mobile phone light to locate hurt and trapped passengers, and took them to safety.
It was pitch dark and locals too used their mobile phones and torches to help passengers till rescue teams arrived. NDRF DIG Mohsen Shahedi in Delhi said that "an NDRF jawan is always on duty whether donning a uniform or not."
The first NDRF and Odisha state rescue teams took about an hour to reach the site following the accident that took place around 7 pm on Friday, and till this time, the NDRF rescuer did whatever he could do to save lives in the "golden hour", the official said. The "golden hour" is the period of time immediately after a traumatic injury during which there is the highest likelihood that prompt medical and surgical treatment will prevent death.
DNA TV Show: Why thousands of aspirants protested against UPPSC in Prayagraj
Girl dances to Shraddha Kapoor's hit Stree 2 song in adorable viral video, 'Kheton me...'
Rashid Khan narrowly escapes serious head injury during AFG vs BAN, WATCH viral video
Who is IAS K Gopalakrishnan, suspended for violation of discipline amid WhatsApp group controversy?
Amid linkup rumours with Abhishek Bachchan, Nimrat Kaur shares cryptic note: 'Our journey is...'
Champions Trophy: PCB to seek clarity from ICC after BCCI refuses to send Indian team to Pakistan
JEE Main 2025 preparation: IIT Kanpur launches FREE 45-day online course; check details
KL Rahul breaks silence on LSG exit in IPL, says, ‘I wanted to go…’
Khushi Kapoor wears bracelet with rumoured boyfriend Vedang Raina's name, see viral photo
Meet man who leads Rs 243890 crore company, lost Rs 21735 crore in one day after...
IND vs SA: Varun Chakravarthy takes 5-wicket-haul but enters THIS unwanted record in 2nd T20I
Sustainability Takes Center Stage in US Manufacturing with Leader Viralsinh Solanki at the Forefront
How to Crack the CTET Exam in 1st Attempt?
'Trump visits India': Man perfectly mimics Donald Trump's 'love' for India, watch viral video
Manipur: 11 suspected militants killed in gunfight with security forces in Jiribam
Ram Gopal Varma booked for offensive posts against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu
Will MrBeast make a video with Virat Kohli? World's biggest YouTuber drops massive hint
This cricketer once walked out to bat with an aluminium bat against England, refused to...
Bigg Boss 18: Rajat Dalal shuts down Vivian Dsena, says 'tera naukar thodi hoon'
Meet actor who cheated on wife with multiple women, got divorced, remarried same woman but...
Aryan to Anaya: Ex-Indian cricketer, coach's son undergoes sex change surgery
Shillong Teer Result OUT for November 11, 2024: First and second round Monday lottery results here
How US Vice President-elect JD Vance found love in Indian-origin Usha Chilukuri, know their story
Maruti Suzuki launches new Dzire: Check price, features of Tata Tiago, Honda Amaze rival
Sebi’s Rs 25 crore penalty plea against Mukesh Ambani dismissed by SC in THIS case
Big blow to former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna as SC denies bail in rape case
6,6,6,6,6,4,4,4,4,4: Shubman Gill's MASSIVE 268 runs in Ranji against...
Berjis Desai’s crime thriller “Murder at the Racecourse” keeps you on the edge
'We went totally wrong...': Rohit Shetty opens up on casting Arjun Kapoor in Singham Again
Shah Rukh Khan's Marjaani gets BTS makeover, watch Jungkook, V, Suga's viral dance
'India's finest': Netizens pour in emotional tributes as Vistara readies for last flight today
Vistara to make last flight today before Air India merger, all you need to know
Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal offers job to X user who suggested THIS BIG change
What is Mukesh Ambani, Nita Ambani's son Anant Ambani's annual salary? Know all about his net worth
Veteran actor Delhi Ganesh cremated with Air Force honours, here's why
'We got the...': Germany grooves to Marathi song Taambdi Chamdi, netizens go berserk; WATCH
Kamal Hassan asks fans to not call him 'Ulaganayagan', says 'this decision comes from....'
'I fell and it went...': Vijay Deverakonda REACTS after video of him falling down stairs goes viral
BIG update on Rohit Sharma's participation in 1st Test against Australia, he is all set to…
Justice Sanjiv Khanna takes oath as 51st Chief Justice of India
Ajay Devgn spills the beans on his 14-year-old son Yug's love life, says 'he is not afraid....'
11/11: Why November 11 is a good day for manifestation? Know how, when you can manifest today
Onion prices rise to Rs 80 per kg: Check rates in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Chennai
Guru Purab Bank Holiday November 15: Are banks open or closed on Guru Nanak Jayanti?
Meet Indian genius, world's youngest female Chartered Accountant who secured AIR 1, she is from...
Delhi continues to choke amid rising air pollution, AQI breaches 350...
Avatar 3: New posters of James Cameron's film feature fire tribe, stunning visuals go viral
This country lets male tourists marry women for a few days due to....
Maharashtra polls: Congress suspends seven more rebel candidates
Meet man who quit high-paying job in US, then built Rs 150 crore company in India, his business is…
Viral video: Little girl wins heart with adorable dance to 'aayi nai' song, watch
Queen Elizabeth's 1947 wedding cake slice sold in auction at this SHOCKING price
Viral video: Woman's sizzling dance to 'tere liye' leaves internet drooling, watch
Meet man who leads Rs 185985 crore company as CEO, son of Indian billionaire, he is...