At least 207 people were killed and over 900 injured after a few coaches of the Chennai-bound Coromandel Express derailed in Odisha's Balasore district on Friday evening, following which it collided head-on with another train coming from the opposite direction on the other track.

The second train involved in the accident was the Bengaluru-Howrah superfast express.

Extending his condolences over the loss of lives and injuries, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter and wrote: "Distressed by the train accident in Odisha. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon."

Even President Droupadi Murmu expressed grief over the incident and said she is "Deeply anguished to know about the loss of lives in an unfortunate rail accident in Balasore, Odisha."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed grief over the incident and said that the accident at Balasore is deeply agonizing. "The NDRF team has already reached the accident site, and other teams are also rushing to join the rescue operation. My condolences to the bereaved families and praying for the speedy recovery of those injured," he said.