In a horrific train accident in Odisha’s Balasore district which has shock the nation, at least 238 people lost their lives and over 900 were injured when four coaches of the Coromandel Express derailed, colliding head-on with a goods train on the opposite line. This tragic incident marks one of the deadliest train crashes in India since independence.

On Friday evening, tragedy struck as the Coromandel Express, en route from Kolkata to Chennai, collided with the derailed coaches of a train traveling from Bengaluru to Kolkata. The collision was so severe that it resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives and left scores of passengers injured.

According to Odisha Chief Secretary PK Jena, a third freight train was also involved in the accident, exacerbating the devastation. As rescue operations continue, there are reports that people from one particular bogie are still awaiting rescue, trapped in the severely mangled wreckage.

The impact of the collision caused extensive damage to the railway tracks, with mangled coaches strewn all over the area. Some coaches were even found mounted on top of others, while several bogies were overturned due to the sheer force of the crash. The scene is one of utter chaos and destruction.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep distress over the tragedy and announced additional compensation for the victims and their families. He declared a sum of ₹2 lakh for the families of those who lost their lives and ₹50,000 for the injured, to be provided from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).

In response to the devastating incident, the Odisha government has set up a helpline (06782-262286) to assist those affected by the accident. The railway authorities have also established helplines for further support: 033-26382217 (Howrah), 8972073925 (Kharagpur), 8249591559 (Balasore), and 044-25330952 (Chennai).

In a horrific incident, a Buddhist youth named Akshay Bhalerao from Scheduled Caste community was brutally lynched to death by a group of men wielding sticks and daggers in the Bondhar Haveli village of Maharashtra’s Nanded district. The attack occurred on Thursday, 1 June, when Akshay and his brother Akash were confronted by the assailants during a wedding procession.

The incident unfolded when Akshay and Akash visited a local grocery store in Bondhar Haveli village in the evening. A wedding procession for a Maratha bridegroom was passing through the main road, with some men in the procession brandishing swords, sticks, and daggers. As the brothers encountered the group, they were allegedly subjected to casteist abuses and targeted for celebrating Bhim Jayanti, according to the First Information Report (FIR) filed by Akash.

The FIR further detailed that the assailants assaulted Akshay, kicking, punching, and beating him with sticks. The situation escalated when one of the attackers repeatedly stabbed him with a dagger, while others restrained his limbs, resulting in his immediate death. Akash and their mother, who had rushed to the scene upon hearing about the incident, were also assaulted and sustained injuries.

The police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Indian Penal Code, including charges of murder and assault. Seven arrests have been made thus far, and the authorities are actively investigating the case to ensure justice is served.

Bondhar Haveli village has a significant Scheduled Castes population, accounting for over 30% of its residents.

The brutal killing of Akshay Bhalerao, a young Buddhist from Scheduled Caste community, in the Bondhar Haveli village of Maharashtra’s Nanded district, has brought shame to Maharashtra a land of Phule couple, Shahu Maharaj and BabaSaheb Ambedkar.

A Dalit man and his mother were allegedly brutally attacked by a group of individuals from an upper caste community in Banaskantha district of Gujarat because the man was wearing good clothes, according to the police. The incident, which took place in Mota village, has sparked outrage and a first information report (FIR) has been filed against seven people.

The incident unfolded on Tuesday night when Jigar Shekhalia, a Dalit man, was confronted by one of the accused outside his house in Mota village. The accused verbally abused him and issued death threats, expressing their displeasure over his well-dressed appearance and sunglasses. Later that night, six others from the same community approached the victim near a village temple and interrogated him about his attire before launching a brutal assault.

During the attack, the victim’s mother rushed to his aid but was also subjected to physical assault, threats, and her clothes were torn. The victims were eventually rescued and are currently receiving treatment at a nearby hospital.

Following the complaint lodged by Jigar Shekhalia, an FIR was registered at Gadh police station. The accused have been booked under sections of the Indian Penal Code, including rioting, unlawful assembly, outraging the modesty of a woman, voluntarily causing hurt, and using abusive language. They have also been charged under relevant sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.