Visakhapatnam: The number of casualties in the train accident on the Howrah-Chennai line in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh rose to 14 while 50 people were injured, Superintendent of Police M Deepika said on Monday.
Officials of the East Coast Railway (ECR) said that at around 7 pm on Sunday, the Palasa passenger train hit the Rayagada passenger train from behind at Kantakapalli, about 40 Km from here, causing three coaches to derail.
Biswajit Sahu, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of the ECR, last night said at least nine people were killed in the incident.
However, according to the police the death toll on Monday morning rose to 13.
Injured persons have been admitted to Tirumala Hospital and NRI Hospital, Vizianagaram (Town) as reported by DRO.
Some injured persons are also admitted to MIMS Hospital Nellimarla, Vizianagaram (D).
The Visakhapatnam-Rayagada train was on its way from Visakhapatnam to Rayagada in Odisha, while the Palasa Express was heading to Vizianagaram from Palasa in Srikakulam district.
Local police have launched a rescue and relief operation. There is darkness at the accident site, which has made the rescue operation difficult.
Waltair Divisional Railway Manager Saurabh Prasad and other officials of East Coast Railway have rushed to the accident site.
The local administration and the NDRF have been informed for assistance and ambulance service, while an accident relief train has reached the site, railway officials said.
It is suspected that some deaths have occurred in the accident as well, an official said but could not immediately confirm the information.
Divisional Railway Manager Saurabh Prasad reached the site, and rescue operations are in full swing.
Local administration and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were informed, seeking assistance and ambulances, and accident relief trains have reached the site, the official added.
East Coast Railway (ECoR) said a human error could have resulted in the collision of two trains in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district.
“Likely reason: Human error. Overshooting of the signal by Visakhapatnam- Rayagada passenger train,” ECoR CPRO Biswajit Sahoo told reporters here.
While explaining the term overshooting, the CPRO said it occurs when a train, instead of stopping at a red signal, moves on.
11 of 14 killed in train accident identified
Eleven of the victims of Sunday’s train accident in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district have been identified. So far the death toll stands at 14.
The deceased include SMS Rao, loco pilot of the Visakhapatnam-Rayagada passenger train, Gangman Chinatala Krishnam Naidu of Vizianagaram and M. Srinivas, who was a passenger guard on the Visakhapatnam Palasa train.
The other victims were identified as Kanchubaraki Ravi, Karanam Appalanaidu, Challa Sathish, Pilla Nagaraju, Reddi Seetham Naidu, Majji Ramu, all from Vizianagaram district and Gidijala Lakshmi and Tenkala Sugunamma, both from Srikakulam.
Bodies of the deceased will be handed over to their families after the autopsy.
Trains cancelled, rescheduled
The ECR has cancelled two trains and diverted few others due to an accident of passenger trains between Kantakapalli and Alamanda in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district on Sunday.
Train No. 08527 Raipur-Visakhapatnam passenger leaving Raipur on October 30 and train No. 08528 Visakhapatnam-Raipur passenger leaving Visakhapatnam on October 30 have been cancelled.
Five trains will run in a diverted route via Titlagarh-Raipur-Nagpur-Bllarsha-Vijayawada instead of the regular route Visakhapatnam-Vijayawada.
Train No. 03357 Baruni-Coimbatore Special Express which left Barauni on October 28 will run on a diverted route.
Train No. 18189 Tata-Ernakulam Express which left Tata on October 29, 11020 Bhubaneswar-CST Mumbai-Konark Express which left Bhubaneswar on October 29, 12703 Howrah-Secundrabad Falknuma Express leaving Howrah on October 29 and 12245 Howrah-SVM Benguluru Duranto Express which left Howrah on October 29 will run on a diverted route.
33 trains have been cancelled and six others rescheduled till now after the mishap in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram leaving 13 persons dead, East Coast Railway officials informed on Monday.
Biswajit Sahu, Chief Public Relations Official, East Coast Railway, Bhubaneshwar confirmed that a total of 33 trains have been cancelled, 24 trains were diverted and 11 were partially cancelled following the accident involving the collision between two passenger trains between Kantakapalle and Alamanada Stations of Waltair Division
Helplines set up for info on Andhra train accident
District collector S. Nagalaxmi said a control room has been opened in her office to provide information about the passengers.
People may contact the control room at 9493589157. The railways has also opened a helpline — 8978080006 — to provide information.
The following emergency helpline numbers have been set up to assist passengers.
Eluru- 0881-2232267
Samalkot- 0884-2327010
Rajahmundry -08832420541
Tuni- 08854-252172
Andhra CM orders rescue, and relief operations
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday visited the train accident victims at the Vizianagaram Government General Hospital and enquired about their treatment and facilities.
Accompanied by Education Minister Botcha Satyanarayana, Vizianagaram district collector S Nagalakshmi and others, the chief minister inspected the treatment facilities and went around talking to the victims.
“Are they taking good care of you? Is the doctor taking care of you,” Reddy asked a victim who suffered a leg injury and proceeded to talk to two minor girls and their mother undergoing treatment. He spent almost an hour with several patients.
Earlier, Reddy shelved his plan to visit the accident site to avoid delaying track restoration work and directly proceeded to the hospital where several survivors are undergoing treatment.
“On the request of the Railway officials, the CM will go directly to the hospital instead of inspecting the scene at the train accident spot… Railway officials appealed that if the CM comes to the spot, there is a possibility that the track restoration work will be delayed,” said a note shared by the CMO with PTI.
Railway Minister, PM Modi and CM Jagan announces ex-gratia
The Chief Minister instructed the officials to pay an ex-gratia of Rs.10 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and Rs.2 lakh each to the injured from the State.
He further instructed of Rs. 2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 each to the injured from other states.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw telephoned the Chief Minister over the accident.
The Chief Minister informed him that rescue teams have been sent to the accident site and Education Minister B.Satyanarayana, District Collector and the SP are supervising the relief and rescue operations.
The Prime Minister has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased due to the train derailment between Alamanda and Kantakapalle section. The injured would be given Rs 50,000, the Prime Minister’s Office posted on X.
PM speaks to railway minister, takes stock of situation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday condoled the loss of lives in the train accident in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh and spoke to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to take stock of the situation.
“PM Narendra Modi spoke to Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw and took stock of the situation in the wake of the unfortunate train derailment between Alamanda and Kantakapalle section,” the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted.
Authorities are providing all possible assistance to those affected, it said.
“The Prime Minister extends condolences to the bereaved families and prays that the injured recover soon,” the PMO tweeted.
Andhra Pradesh Governor expresses shock
Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer has expressed shock over the train accident and briefed that necessary relief arrangements have been made and action has been taken by the authorities to shift the injured passengers to the nearby hospitals to provide immediate medical treatment.
The Governor expressed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured persons.
Opposition remarkd on accident:
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge hit out at the Modi government on Monday, Ocotber 30 over the train derailment in Andhra Pradesh, saying the enthusiasm shown in flagging off trains with fanfare should also be shown in action towards railway safety and the well-being of passengers.
In a post on X, Kharge said, “Extremely saddened to learn about the train derailment tragedy in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh, where precious lives have been lost and several people have suffered injuries.”
“Our deepest condolences to the families of the bereaved. We pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” he said and requested Congress workers to provide every possible help.
It seems that all the claims of safety by the Union government, post the Balasore train tragedy have evaporated in thin air, he said.
“The same enthusiasm of flagging trains with fanfare and propaganda should also be shown in action towards railway safety and the well-being of crores of daily passengers,” Kharge said.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed condolences to the next of kin of the deceased who lost their lives.
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee slammed Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw after the Andhra train mishap, asking, “When will the railways come out of the slumber?”
“Another disastrous rail collision, this time in Vizianagaram district in Andhra Pradesh, involving two passenger trains, and causing until now at least 8 deaths and injury of at least 25 more,” Mamata Banerjee posted on X in a series of tweets.
(with inputs from IANS and PTI)
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