NEW DELHI, India —Rescuers ended a seek for survivors because the demise toll from a train crash that killed more than 260 people and injured hundreds extra in one of many worst rail disasters in Indian historical past, officers mentioned.

At least least 261 individuals died on Friday when two passenger trains derailed, trapping individuals below mangled coaches and flipped rail vehicles, in response to an replace from the South Eastern Railway firm on Saturday afternoon.

Injured passengers had been transferred to native hospitals from the crash website within the Balasore district, within the jap state of Odisha, about 137 miles southwest of Kolkata.

Earlier, Sudhanshu Sarangi, director of the Odisha fireplace division, mentioned that a minimum of 288 individuals had died and that some survivors had been in a critical situation.

Tributes and condolences have poured in from world leaders and non secular figures, together with the Dalai Lama.

Hundreds of rescuers climbed over particles and minimize by mangled metal to free survivors. They had been assisted by medical and engineering groups from the Indian armed forces who had been routed from a number of bases, a military spokesperson advised Indian information company ANI. 

Prime minister Narendra Modi arrived on the crash website in Odisha on Saturday afternoon to evaluate the scenario. He mentioned on Friday that “all possible assistance” was being given to these affected by the crash.

Vaishnaw added on Saturday that makes an attempt had been being made to clear the railway line to make approach for restoration work, in a video launched on Twitter by the ANI. 

“The restoration work has started from one end, the most important thing right now is to clear the area and stay away from the machines deployed in the restoration process,” he mentioned. 

He added that the federal government would start an investigation into the “root cause” of the accident. 

There had been about 1,257 reserved passengers on the Coromandal Express, of which between 10 and 12 vehicles derailed, and 1,039 reserved passengers on the Yashwantpur Express, which crashed into particles from the Coromandal Express and likewise derailed round 6.55 p.m. (9.25 a.m. ET) on Friday, a authorities spokesperson advised the ANI.

Families of the useless will obtain 1 million rupees ($12,000), whereas the severely injured will get 200,000 rupees ($2,400), with 50,000 rupees ($607) for minor accidents, Vaishnaw mentioned on Twitter. Some state governments have additionally introduced compensation.

Previous prepare accidents have been blamed on human error, or the usage of outdated signaling tools. 

“I offer my condolences to the families of those who have lost loved ones” mentioned the Dalai Lama in a press release, including that “as a mark of solidarity” his belief would make a donation to medical therapy and aid efforts. 

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau tweeted: “The images and reports of the train crash in Odisha, India break my heart. I’m sending my deepest condolences to those who lost loved ones, and I’m keeping the injured in my thoughts. At this difficult time, Canadians are standing with the people of India.”

Russian president Vladimir Putin and the Turkish ministry of international affairs additionally provided condolences. 

India’s worst rail accident thus far occurred in August 1995, when two trains collided close to New Delhi, killing 358 individuals. 

In November 2016, more than 100 people were killed when 14 coaches of a passenger prepare rolled off the observe within the nation’s north.

Ravi Mishra reported from New Delhi, India, and Leila Sackur reported from London.