In Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district, at least 13
people died and over 50 others were injured when two passenger trains collided on
Sunday.
As per reports, the 08504 Visakhapatnam-Rayagada
passenger special train rammed into the 08532 Visakhapatnam-Palasa passenger
train around 7 pm. Both trains had 14 coaches each.
A statement cited human error as a possible cause with
the Rayagada-bound train having likely jumped the signal.
Waltair Division Railway Manager Sourabh Prasad said
the accident occurred at roughly 7:10 pm, adding, “The Vishakhapatnam-Palasa
train was waiting on the track between Alamanda and Kantakpalli railway
stations of the Kothavalasa block when the collision took place.”
The incident caused four bogies of the second train to
derail onto the adjacent track. The crash plucked out electric lines, throwing
the area into pitch darkness that hindered rescue operations.
“Soon after we came to know about the incident, the
local police, National Disaster Response Force teams and revenue authorities
rushed to the spot to take up rescue and relief operations,” said the Divisional
Railway Manager.
“A control room has been set up in the Collector’s
Office with toll-free number 9493589157,” said Vizianagaram district collector
S Nagalakshmi, adding a railway helpline with number 8978080006 was also
available for making enquiries and that eight ambulances had been pressed into
service.
The railways has cancelled, diverted or terminated as
many as 13 trains since the tracks were blocked.
It is the another most serious train accident since
June 2, when 296 people died in triple train accident in Odisha’s Balasore
district.
Earlier on October 12, five people were killed and at
least 30 people injured after 23 coaches of the North East Express derailed
near Raghunathpur station in Bihar’s Buxar.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy
expressed shock over the incident and said he had directed district authorities
to implement immediate relief measures.
Ambulances from neighbouring districts of
Vishakhapatnam and Anakapalli will be pressed into service, he added.
NE Watch Desk
