Bhubaneswar, October 29: The train accident that occurred on Sunday evening between Andhra Pradesh’s Kantakapalle and Alamanda railway stations near Vizianagaram was due to overshooting.
Overshooting is a situation when a train marches ahead, ignoring the danger signal.
According to the information provided by the East Coast Railway, the mishap occurred when the Rayagada-bound 08504 Visakhapatnam-Rayagada Special Passenger train hit the Visakhapatnam-Palasa Special Passenger train at around 7 PM.
According to Railway statement, derailment of Passenger Train between Alamanda and Kantakapalle in Vizianagaram-Kottavalasa Railway Section of Waltair Division of East Coast Railway Zone at about 1900hrs.
08532 Visakhapatnam-Palasa Passenger train and 08504 Visakhapatnam-Rayagada Passenger Special got involved in this incident. Likely reason: Human error. Overshooting of Signal by Visakhapatnam- Rayagada passenger train.
Two Coaches of 08532 Visakhapatnam-Palasa Passenger train from the rear and the loco of 08504 Visakhapatnam-Rayagada Passenger got derailed.
Rescue operations are underway with DRM/Waltair and his Team on the spot. Accident Relief Trains and other rescue equipments have been engaged and Helpline Numbers have been issued.
As many as five coaches of the two trains skidded off the tracks resulting in the death of eight passengers on the spot and leaving many others injured.
However, there was no immediate official confirmation on the casualty.
East Coast Railway (ECoR) Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Biswajit Sahoo informed that a special relief train was sent from Rayagada railway station.
Railway minister Ashiwni Vaishnaw took his X handle to inform about the rescue operation being carried out at the accident spot.
“Rescue operations are underway. All passengers shifted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the situation. Spoke to the CM of Andhra Pradesh, state government and railway teams are working in close coordination,” Vaishnaw wrote on his post.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to his X handle and said, “Spoke to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and took stock of the situation in the wake of the unfortunate train derailment between Alamanda and Kantakapalle section.”
The Prime Minister announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (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.
Top officials of the East Coast Railway’s Bhubaneswar headquarters rushed to the crash site.
Waltair Divisional Railway Manager Saurabh Prasad and other officials of East Coast Railway also rushed to the accident site.
The local administration and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been informed for assistance and ambulance service, while an accident relief train has reached the site, railway officials said
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed deep shock over the Kantakapalli train accident incident in Vizianagaram district. He ordered the officials to take quick relief measures and ensure that the injured get prompt medical services.
“The Chief Minister has advised to send as many ambulances as possible from the nearby districts of Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli and make all kinds of arrangements to provide medical treatment in the nearby hospitals. The details regarding the incident should be reported to him from time to time,” CMO Andhra Pradesh tweeted.
