At least 36 people were killed and over 50 injured as nine coaches of the Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express derailed near Kuneru station in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh late Saturday night, officials said.
The accident took place around 11.20 p.m. near Kuneru station, about 30 km from Rayagada in Odisha, when the train was going from Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh to Bhubaneswar.
The engine and nine coaches of train no- 18448 Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Express went off the track near Kuneru station, Chief PRO of East Coast Railway J P Mishra told PTI. The train had 22 coaches.
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has announced Rs 2 lak ex-gratia for the kin of those killed, Rs 25,000 for those injured and Rs 50,000 for seriously injured.
An official of East Cost Railway said one mobile train reached the accident site. The injured were shifted to hospitals nearby.
East Coast Railways said that 36 people have been reported dead so far.
Rayagada Sub-collector Muralidhar Swain said that the number of injured could be around 100. The casualty figure may go up as many people are trapped, he added.
The rescue and relief operations were underway. The death toll is likely to go up.
As there was complete darkness at the accident site, it took time for authorities to launch rescue and relief operations.
Services were affected on Rayagada and Vijayanagaram route, with at least 3 trains cancelled and 8 others diverted.
13 unaffected coaches including luggage-cum-guard van left for Rayagada and they will proceed to Bhubaneswar via Sambhalpur-Angul route. If necessary, extra coaches will be added at Rayagada, Mishra said.
Railways have tied up with Parvatipuram bus depot to arrange for transport. 5 buses have already been arranged to take the passengers towards Palasa and Berhampur areas.
A total of 15 buses are being arranged to take the stranded passengers to their respective destinations.
Over 10 ambulances have been deployed to take the injured to hospital.
At Parvatipuram govt hospital, 22 injured people were taken for treatment from where 7 were referred to Visakhapatnam. 32 were taken to Rayagada district hospital, Mishra said.
Ministry of railways said four accident relief vans were rushed from different places. "All rescue and relief apparatus mobilised immediately," the ministry said in a tweet.
Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu was personally monitoring the situation. He directed senior officials to reach to the site immediately, ensure prompt rescue and relief operations.
Railway officials from nearby stations rushed to the site to monitor rescue operations.
Train number 18448 Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express had departed from Jagdalpur at 3 p.m. on Saturday and was scheduled to reach Bhubaneswar at 8.25 a.m. on Sunday.
The train ran off the track minutes after it entered Andhra Pradsh from Odisha. The train passes through part of north coastal Andhra before re-entering Odisha.
The Railway officials did not specify the cause of accident but hinted that anything was possible as the area is Naxal affected.
The railways have ordered an investigation into the incident.
"There is a confirmation of 23 deaths in this unfortunate accident. Total 54 people have been injured, those with minor injuries have been sent after first aid. Honourable Railway Minister is constantly monitoring the situation and he is giving constant instructions to the railway board and the zonal railway to provide best relief operations," said railway spokesperson Anil Saxena.
The cause of the accident is yet not known and we will come to know only after through investigations. The cause will be investigated from all angles. If there was any unusual activity, or tampering with track, it will be probed. Commissioner Railway Safety to enquire into the derailment," he said.
"One unit of National Disaster Response Force has reached the spot, Up and down line between Vijayanagaram-Singhpur has been affected," Saxena said.
Railways have set up helplines at various stations in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha to provide information about the accident.
Helpline numbers:
Vizianagaram: 83331, 83332, 83333, 83334, 08922-221202, 08922-221206
Visakhapatnam: 83003, 83005, 83006, 0891-2746344, 0891-2746330, 08500358610, 08500358712
Rayagada: 06856-223400, 06856-223500, 09439741181, 09439741071, 07681878777
Khurda: 0674 2490670.
Bhubaneswar station: 06742543360.
Behrampur station: 06802229632
