108 Ambulance Plays a Key Role in the Massive Rescue Operation of the Bahanaga Bazar Train Accident
Bhubaneswar (Odisha), June 9 – The horrific triple train collision at Bahanaga Bazar in Balasore district of Odisha, which claimed 288 lives and left over 1200 injured, is regarded as one of the deadliest train accidents in the last three decades. Amid this tragedy, 108 Ambulance services played a pivotal role in the rescue operation, providing critical support during the emergency.
Within minutes of the accident, 229 108 Ambulances were mobilized from 11 districts of Odisha, including Cuttack, Khurda, Dhenkanal, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Angul, Keonjhar, Balasore, Jagatsinghpur, and Mayurbhanj. These ambulances were swiftly deployed for transporting the injured, providing referral services, and handling deceased bodies. Over 1,000 ambulance personnel, including drivers, helpers, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and other officials, worked relentlessly for over 48 hours in this extensive rescue effort.
Many crew members, demonstrating extraordinary dedication, continued their efforts round the clock, even working beyond their shifts or during their leave time. Over 20 crew members also donated blood at different hospitals, providing invaluable support to the patients and their families during this critical time.
The incident occurred at 6:55 PM, and the first call to the 108 emergency center was received just three minutes later at 6:58 PM. The initial response was rapid, with ambulances dispatched to the site even before other rescue teams like ODRAF, NDRF, and Fire Services arrived. Within hours, more than 200 ambulances were deployed in the operation.
The injured were taken to several healthcare centers, including Soro Community Health Centre, Balasore District Headquarters Hospital, Gopalpur Primary Health Center, Iswarpur Primary Health Center, Khantapada Community Health Center, and Nilgiri SDH. Additionally, some patients were transferred to Bhadrak DHH for specialized treatment. The deceased were transported to morgues at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, SCB Hospital Cuttack, Capital Hospital, and several private hospitals in Bhubaneswar.
Sri Sabyasachi Biswal, State Head of Ziqitza Healthcare Ltd., shared his thoughts on the operation, saying, “This was one of the most challenging operations we’ve ever conducted. We are deeply grateful to our crew and support staff for their unwavering commitment during such a critical time. Every individual, especially our ground ambulance team, showed immense devotion to their duty, ensuring that every injured person received the help they needed without hesitation. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the State Government, National Health Mission, the Ministry of Health, and the district hospital teams for their support. Without their collective effort, this mass rescue operation wouldn’t have been possible.”
Rajneesh Singh is a journalist at Asian News, specializing in entertainment, culture, international affairs, and financial technology. With a keen eye for the latest trends and developments, he delivers fresh, insightful perspectives to his audience. Rajneesh’s passion for storytelling and thorough reporting has established him as a trusted voice in the industry.
