In a devastating turn of events on the Howrah-Chennai railway line, a passenger train overshot a signal and collided with another, resulting in thirteen fatalities and forty individuals sustaining injuries.
Rescue operations are underway. All passengers shifted. PM @narendramodi Ji reviewed the situation. Spoke to the CM of Andhra Pradesh, state govt and railway teams are working in close coordination.
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) October 29, 2023
The incident unfolded between the Alamanda and Kantakapalle stations when a special passenger train, running from Visakhapatnam to Palasa, came to an abrupt halt on the main line due to signal issues. Tragically, the Vizag-Rayagada passenger train plowed into the stationary train from behind, causing the last two coaches of the Visakhapatnam-Palasa train and the locomotive of the Visakhapatnam-Rayagada passenger train to derail.
Biswajit Sahu, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of the East Coast Railway, provided details about the derailment and the tragic consequences of the collision.
Initial reports indicated nine fatalities, but the number has tragically risen to thirteen, as confirmed by Vizianagaram Collector Nagalakshmi. Rescue operations are ongoing with the hope of concluding them by morning. Meanwhile, at least forty injured passengers have been rushed to nearby hospitals for medical treatment.
The accident has severely disrupted railway operations in the region. The CPRO, East Coast Railway, informed, a total of 33 trains have been cancelled, 22 trains have been diverted and 11 trains are partially cancelled.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the collision was a result of the Vizag-Rayagada train’s locomotive pilot’s error, who regrettably lost his life in the incident. Railway sources had earlier hinted that the signal may not have been noticed by the pilot.
In response to this heart-wrenching incident, Chief Minister YSR Jagan Mohan Reddy has announced financial aid for the victims’ families. Families of the deceased will receive ₹10 lakh, while those with severe injuries will be provided ₹2.5 lakh, and passengers with minor injuries will receive ₹50,000.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also expressed his condolences and concern. After assessing the situation, he announced additional financial assistance, offering ₹2 lakh to the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.
To ensure a coordinated response, the railway ministry in Delhi has also established a dedicated war room to closely monitor the situation. The East Coast Railway has released helpline numbers for those in need of information or assistance: Bhubaneswar – 0674-2301625, 2301525, 2303069, and Waltair – 0891-2885914.
Meanwhile, the tragic accident in Andhra Pradesh follows a horrific accident in Odisha just five months ago, involving three trains that resulted in the loss of over 280 lives near the Bahanaga Bazar station.
