As many as 70 people were killed and more than 350 injured in a horrific triple train crash on Friday in Odisha’s Balasore district at around 7 pm.

According to a railway official, several coaches of the 12864 Bengaluru-Howrah train travelling to Howrah derailed at Bahanaga Bazar and fell on adjacent tracks.

"These derailed coaches collided with 12841 Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and its coaches capsized too," a senior official said.

He further said that a goods train was also involved in the accident as the coaches of the Coromandel Express hit its wagons after getting derailed.

Fifteen coaches of Coromandel Express came off the tracks, while two of the other train got derailed, reported NDTV.

Over 350 people who were injured have been admitted to different hospitals across the district such as Balasore Medical College, Community Health Centers in Soro, and Gopalpur and a Primary Health Centre in Khantapada.

So far, 70 bodies have been recovered from under the overturned coaches.

Several people are still feared to be trapped under the derailed coaches.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said he was rushing to the accident site and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh in case of death, 2 lakh for grievous and 50,000 for minor injuries.

"Rushing to the site in Odisha. My prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured and condolences to the bereaved families.

Rescue teams mobilised from Bhubaneswar and Kolkata. NDRF, State govt. teams and Airforce also mobilised. Will take all hands required for the rescue ops."

"Ex-gratia compensation to the victims of this unfortunate train accident in Odisha; Rs 10 Lakh in case of death, Rs 2 Lakh towards grievous and ?50,000 for minor injuries," he tweeted.

While Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said he has reviewed the situation as he rushed to the control room. He will be travelling to the accident site tomorrow morning, Saturday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was distressed by the accident, and spoke with Vaishnaw to take stock of the situation.

"Distressed by the train accident in Odisha. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. Spoke to Railway Minister @AshwiniVaishnaw and took stock of the situation. Rescue ops are underway at the site of the mishap and all possible assistance is being given to those affected," he tweeted.

NDRF, SDRF teams and over 600 rescue force personnel have been deployed in the incident site.

According to the news agency ANI, about 50 ambulances have reached to the spot, 50 doctors have been mobilised from other districts and the Chief District Medical officer and his team are also present at the spot to give first aid and direct ambulances.

The Odisha government has issued helpline 06782-262286. The railway helplines are 033-26382217 (Howrah), 8972073925 (Kharagpur), 8249591559 (Balasore) and 044- 25330952 (Chennai).

(With inputs from agencies)