Andhra train accident: Death toll rises to 11, human error suspected. Top 10 points
Few coaches derailed after the Visakhapatnam-Ragada passenger train hit a Visakhapatnam-Ragada train travelling on the same route in Andhra Pradesh's Vizianagaram district on 29 October.
The Divisional Railway Manager said that 3 coaches were involved in the accident. As per the DRM, "There was a rear collision between the Visakhapatnam-Palasa passenger train and the Visakhapatnam-Ragada passenger train. 3 coaches were involved in the accident. Rescue operations are underway, Local administration and NDRF were informed for assistance and ambulances. Accident relief trains reached the site.
Sunday evening, leaving more than 10 dead and many injured.
A senior official of the East Coast Railway (ECR) said at around 7 pm, the Palasa passenger train hit the Rayagada passenger train from behind at Kankatapalli, causing three coaches to derail. The accident occurred when the Visakhapatnam-Rayagada passenger train stopped on Sunday because of a break in an overhead cable and the Visakhapatnam-Palasa Express service rammed into it from the rear, derailing two carriages of the stationary train.
Relief and rescue operations are under way at the accident spot. Senior railway officials are trying to restore the track which is needed for the restoration of trains movement in important Chennai-Kolkata route. Movement of trains on the route has been halted since the accident.
The injured were shifted to hospitals in Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan is expected to visit the site of the accident today.
At least eight persons died and over 30 were injured after two trains collided in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh on Sunday evening.
Andhra train accident
08532 Visakhapatnam-Palasa Passenger train and 08504 Visakhapatnam-Rayagada Passenger Special were involved in this incident which took place between Alamanda and Kantakapalli in Vizianagaram-Kottavalasa Railway Section of Waltair Division of East Coast Railway Zone at about 7 pm.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed that the rescue operations are underway at the site.
Dr S Appala Naidu, Superintendent of the Government General Hospital In-Charge, Vizianagaram said, “Ambulances have been sent to the accident sites and as of now we have received 20 injured people, out of which, three are serious.
More ambulances are on the way so the number of injured persons might increase." The doctor added, “We haven’t received any bodies in the hospital as of now. However, there are reports of death of some passengers too."
This is the third train accident in the past six months in which passengers lost their lives. Earlier this month, at least four died and around 90 passengers were injured after six coaches of North-East Superfast Express derailed in Bihar’s Buxar.
On June 2, at least 291 passengers were killed and almost a thousand were injured in the Balasore train accident. Involving three trains, including two passenger trains, the mishap is considered the worst train accident in the last two decades.
