On 2 June 2023, three trains collided near the eastern Indian state of Odisha, resulting in 288 deaths and 900 injuries. Authorities estimate that the death toll could rise to 380. The Coromandel Express, a passenger train running between Calcutta and Madras, was diverted onto a track where a freight train was already parked.
The passenger train collided with the freight train at 130 km/h. Three wagons then fell onto an adjacent track and collided with the rear of a third train. It was this last collision that caused the most casualties. This was one of the deadliest railway accidents in the country's history.
According to the Indian government, this tragedy was either caused by an electronic switch failure or human signaling error. The exact details of the accident will be released once the final investigation report has been published.
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