Drone Visuals: Coaches Derailed After Passenger Train Accident In Andhra Pradesh
Hyderabad: In a grievous mishap that unfolded in Andhra Pradesh, thirteen individuals lost their lives, and forty others suffered injuries in a rail collision. This catastrophic incident occurred when a passenger train failed to heed a signal and collided with another on the Howrah-Chennai railway line, late yesterday evening.
Here are the paramount highlights of this substantial event: The collision transpired between two passenger trains on the Howrah-Chennai route in the Vizianagaram district, resulting in the cancellation of eighteen trains and the diversion of twenty-two others.
Amidst this chaos, a special passenger train en route from Visakhapatnam to Palasa found itself at a standstill between Alamanda and Kantakapalle due to a lack of signals. Tragically, it was struck from behind by a Vizag-Raigad passenger train, leading to the derailment of three coaches.
Railway authorities attribute this tragic mishap to human error, underscoring that the loco pilot failed to notice the signaling. Distressing images from the scene last evening portrayed derailed coaches and a multitude of people gathering in the vicinity. Aside from the derailed and impacted carriages, the site was cleared by midnight, as confirmed by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
All forty individuals injured in this calamity hail from Andhra Pradesh, with four of them in critical condition, as reported by the Vizianagaram District administration. The confirmation of thirteen fatalities was conveyed by Vizianagaram Collector Nagalakshmi earlier today.
In an effort to provide support to the affected families, the Railway Minister has announced financial assistance. Those who lost their loved ones will receive ₹10 lakh, while individuals with severe injuries will be granted ₹2.5 lakh, and those with minor injuries will receive ₹50,000.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken cognizance of the situation and expressed his condolences for the lives lost. He has additionally pledged ₹2 lakh in assistance for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.
The Railway Minister also engaged in a conversation with Chief Minister YSR Jagan Mohan Reddy, who expressed profound sorrow over the incident. He has instructed all necessary measures to ensure the prompt treatment of the injured and has requested real-time updates on the situation.
The war room within the Delhi railway ministry is closely monitoring the situation, according to railway sources. The East Coast Railway has released helpline numbers, including Bhubaneswar at 0674-2301625, 2301525, 2303069, and Waltair at 0891-2885914.
Divisional Railway Manager Saurabh Prasad, who visited the accident site, conveyed last night that the final death toll could only be ascertained once a comprehensive inspection of the coaches is conducted. Efforts are underway to disentangle the interlocked carriages, and a clearer picture will emerge once this process is completed.
It’s important to note that this unfortunate incident follows a horrific accident that occurred nearly five months ago in Odisha, claiming the lives of over 280 passengers. The collision involved the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, and a goods train on June 2 near the Bahanaga Bazar station.
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