Several witnesses and local officials told media that the Coromandel Express passenger train and a freight train collided near Balasore, about 200 kilometers from the state capital Bhubaneswar.
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A second passenger train was also involved in the accident, according to Odisha President Pradeep Jena.
The Press Trust of India news agency reported, in turn, that “around 50 people may be dead”, citing authorities who asked not to be identified.
The Balasore police deputy inspector general's office told AFP that at least 200 people were injured, many of them seriously.
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“The details are still not very clear, as teams are on the ground, and everyone is busy with rescue work,” said a police officer who also declined to be named.
“In this hour of pain, my thoughts are with the families (…) May the injured recover soon,” wrote Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Twitter.
Local media outlets showed images of a train carriage turned to one side of the road, with what appeared to be survivors on top of it, while residents tried to get the victims to a safe place.
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