Odisha Train Disaster – Victims Support

A devastating train accident occurred in Balasore, Odisha, India, on 2nd June 2023 involving derailment and collision of 2 packed Superfast Passenger Trains and a stationary Goods Train. Tragically, over 280 passengers lost their lives; over 1100 persons are injured, many with serious life-changing injuries. As of the afternoon of 6th June, there are still around 200 people being treated in various hospitals in Odisha for serious injuries; many have been shifted to hospitals in neighbouring states and hundreds of other victims have been discharged after receiving urgent care but requiring follow-up care, physical/occupational therapy and rehabilitation. The heart-breaking scenes from India have deeply affected every one of us and our thoughts and prayers are with families and friends of the affected people.

Whilst Central Government and Odisha state governmental organisations have done their best to speedily rescue victims and clear the crash site, the affected victims will require enormous support over the coming weeks and months to recover from this shocking calamity, including immediate specialist medical services and long term physical and mental rehabilitation. Many of the victims are migrant workers from a low socio-economic background and belong to several states – Odisha, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka & Andhra Pradesh. In such distressed times, we must all come together and contribute our mite towards assisting the affected individuals.

Shree Jagannatha Society UK (SJSUK) is a registered charity organisation (#1191544) and one of our objectives is to help people during times of humanitarian crisis. SJSUK and other supporting groups (Odisha Society of UK, Irish Odia Association, Odia Society of Scotland & Odia cultural association of London, Odisha Society of Midland, SLOGAN, Kalinga Parivar & Nuakhai Parivar) are organising this fundraising campaign for the victims and their families to provide both immediate aid and relief as well as long-term support. A dedicated team of SJSUK volunteers is liaising directly with charitable and volunteer organisations working on the ground in Balasore, Cuttack and Bhubaneswar to identify the needs of victims, define the support required and provide appropriate assistance to them.

SJSUK has already:

1. Supported organising a Blood Donation Camp at Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar on 3rd and 4th June 2023, where over 400 donors came forward voluntarily to donate blood for the victims.

2. Coordinated and organised a team of volunteer specialist doctors who rushed to Balasore from other states in India on the 4th of June. They have been working with the local doctors at Fakir Mohan Medical College Hospital in Balasore and supporting them in triaging and treating patients, as well as assessing the specialist medical support required by victims.

3. Identified patients requiring complex surgical procedures that require them to be shifted to specialist medical centres along with long-term rehabilitation measures. The patients have been assessed by our team of experienced Orthopaedic Surgeons, Neurosurgeons, Plastic Surgeons and Maxillo-Facial Surgeons who flew into Balasore and have organised the treatment of these patients in hospitals.

Although these complex surgical procedures are very expensive our volunteer specialist doctors will provide their services free of cost. However, there will still be a considerable cost for the prosthetics, surgical and medical consumables required for the patients and the transport and stay of the patients and their attendants.

SJSUK urges you to please come forward and generously donate towards the support and rehabilitation of these unfortunate victims. No contribution is insignificant. We thank you for your generous support towards the victims of this tragedy.

SJSUK is committed to helping the unfortunate victims of this catastrophic accident in every manner possible and your generosity will help support this mission. The SJSUK Trust Board will regularly discuss the needs of the victims based on feedback from local volunteer groups and allocate funds appropriately. Donors will be updated regularly via this webpage and our website www.shreejagannatha.uk about how funds are being utilised.

Jai Shree Jagannatha