People helping with rescue operations and large lines for blood donations are "rare but invaluable sights."

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik claimed on Tuesday that the people of the state saved over 1,000 lives in the Balasore railway catastrophe by acting quickly after the accident.

People helping with rescue operations and large lines for blood donations are "rare but invaluable sights."

He was speaking during a ceremony to welcome 1,205 new medical officers to the state administration.

Following a one-minute pause in memory of those who died in the disaster, Patnaik stated that the efforts of locals demonstrated the compassion and humanity of the people of Odisha.

"Doctors, medical students, and members of the general public all had one goal in mind: let us save as many lives as we can." And we've saved over a thousand lives. People assisting in rescue operations and enormous lines for blood donations are uncommon but crucial spectacles. I am quite proud of my people. "I am proud of Odisha," remarked the chief minister.

"This is a time of great grief and sorrow." "However, this accident has demonstrated Odisha's strength, its ability to rise to the occasion in times of crisis," he remarked.

Patnaik further alleged that the state administration sprung into action the soon word of the catastrophe broke.

"Ministers, top officers, support staff...all were on the scene of the accident and health centres, making arrangements and monitoring the rescue operation and treatment of the injured," he added.

Noting that Odisha has managed cyclones and COVID-19 with long and medium-term planning, Patnaik stated that the state has now demonstrated that "it is equally capable of managing such a crisis."

At 7 p.m. on June 2, the Coromandel Express collided with a halted freight train, derailing most of its carriages. A few Coromandel carriages collided with the final few coaches of the Bengaluru-Howrah Express, which was travelling through at the same time.

Investigators are looking at human error, signal failure, and other potential reasons of the three-train collision.