The Visakhapatnam-Rayagada Passenger Special train had hit the Visakhapatnam-Palasa passenger from the rear after which several coaches derailed. The collision took place between Kantakapalle and Alamanda railway stations, officials said.
“After completion of the rescue operation and shifting of the injured to the hospitals, our teams are working hard to fit the tracks by 4 pm to normalise the train operation on the route. So far, 18 trains have been cancelled while 11 more have been partially cancelled. Similarly, 22 trains have been diverted,” said Biswajit Sahu, Chief Public Relations Officer, ECoR.
Though signal overshooting led to the train collision according to a preliminary inquiry, Sahu said the exact reason will only be known after the inquiry.
East Coast Railway General Manager Manoj Sharma, along with Principal Heads of Departments of ECoR and Divisional Railway Manager, Waltair, is monitoring the restoration work at the accident site. As many as eight poclain machines, one 140 rail crane, and 800 to 900 people are engaged in the restoration work, said officials.
The officials are also working hard to hand over the compensation amount to over 50 injured admitted in different hospitals and ex-gratia to the family members of the deceased, said an official.
Meanwhile, a second National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team reached the site of the accident early on Monday to assist with relief and rescue operations. On Sunday night, an NDRF and two SDRF teams were at the accident spot.
Top Ministry of Railways officials said the driver of the train that collided from the rear had missed the signal. “He crossed the red signal… It was a rear-end collision. The local train at the front was at a very low speed, almost crawling,” an official said.
ECoR has said in a statement: “Rescue operations are underway with DRM/Waltair (Divisional Railway Manager, Waltair division) and his team on the spot. The local administration is also helping in the rescue operation. Accident relief trains and other rescue equipment… have been engaged, and helpline numbers have been issued.”
Services on the Chennai-Howrah routes were disrupted and several trains on the route were either cancelled or diverted after the accident.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">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. <a href="https://t.co/K9c2cRsePG">https://t.co/K9c2cRsePG</a></p>— PMO India (@PMOIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/1718678686352961833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
In a post on X, the Prime Minister’s Office said PM Narendra Modi had spoken to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and took stock of the situation. “Authorities are providing all possible assistance to those affected. The Prime Minister extends condolences to the bereaved families and prays that the injured recover soon,” it said.
PM Modi has announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of each of the deceased, and Rs 50,000 to each of the injured, the PMO said on X.
According to a Railway official, they have already started distributing ex gratia amounts. “Rs 10 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 5 lakh to those injured,” the official said.
“The situation is under control…,” an official said.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed shock and concern over the train accident and instructed authorities to implement urgent relief actions.
Jagan Mohan Reddy also instructed 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. The Andhra Pradesh CM also said a compensation of Rs. 2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 each to the injured from other states will be given.
Reddy also directed the coordination of various government departments, including health, police, and revenue, to work together to provide rapid relief measures and ensure that all injured receive immediate medical attention.
The Chief Minister spoke to Vaishnaw over the phone and informed him that rescue teams have been sent to the accident site and Education Minister B Satyanarayana, who hails from Vizianagaram, the district collector and the SP are supervising the relief and rescue operations.
He told Vaishnav all arrangements were made in the nearby hospitals to treat the injured. The injured have been admitted to Tirumala Hospital and NRI Hospital, Vizianagaram (Town). Some of the injured are also admitted to MIMS Hospital Nellimarla, Vizianagaram.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also expressed his grief over the death of passengers in the train accident. Patnaik directed Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Sudam Marndi to visit the train accident site in Andhra Pradesh to meet the injured at the hospital. Senior officials from the special relief commissioner (SRC)’s office are also accompanying the minister.
The Odisha government is also in touch with the Andhra Pradesh government to coordinate the rescue operation. Sahu said the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force and fire service team deputed at Rayagada would be rushed to the accident site if needed.
“The Odisha government has sent two buses from Vizianagaram to the accident site to bring back the stranded Odia passengers,” added Sahu.
Kajal Agarwal
