Train accident: Death toll rises to 14, AP CM to visit

Vizianagaram, Oct 30 (UNI): The number of casualties in the train accident on the Howrah-Chennai line in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh rose to 14 on Monday.

District Collector Nagalakshmi told the media that 14 passengers have been killed in the Sunday evening train accident. Bodies of 11 have been identified.

She said 32 injured people are undergoing treatment at the GGH in Vizianagaram, with one admitted to the KG hospital and another to the NRI hospital in Visakhapatnam.

The condition of four of the injured is said to be critical, the collector informed. The collector said 54 passengers were injured in the train accident.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy will visit the accident site and the injured in the hospital. He will also console the bereaved families on Monday, according to official sources.

Railway sources said 11 bogies of the 08532 Visakhapatnam-Palasa train were taken to the Alamanda station, and nine bogies of the 08504 Visakhapatnam-Rayagada train were taken to Kantakapalli station.

Railway officials said rescue and relief operations were in full swing with NDRF and SDRF personnel, and all needed equipment was shifted to the accident site. Three bogies were badly crushed in the accident. The restoration of tracks was being carried out on a war footing.

Importantly, the Visakhapatnam-Palasa (08532) passenger train was rammed at the rear end by the Visakhapatnam-Rayagada (08504) passenger train. Some of the bogies fell on the goods train bogies, which were stationed on the side track.

The accident was similar to the devastating Odisha train accident, which took place four and a half months ago.

In another release, Southern Railway announced cancellation, diversion and rescheduling of more trains.
Train No 22860 Dr MGR Chennai Central – Puri Weekly Express scheduled to depart at 16.25 hrs of today 30th October, 2023 is fully cancelled.
Train No. 22808 Dr MGR Chennai Central – Santragachi Superfast Express that left Dr MGR Chennai Central at 08.10 hrs on 29th October, 2023 is diverted to run via Thady, Vijayawada, Nagpur, Raipur, Jharsuguda, Kharagpur
Train No. 22641 Thiruvananthapuram Central – Shalimar Bi-Weekly Express that left Thiruvananthapuram Central at 16.55 hrs on 28th October, 2023 is diverted to run via Narsipatnam Road, Vijayawada, Nagpur, Raipur, Jharsuguda, Kharagpur
Train No. 12841 Shalimar – Dr MGR Chennai Central Coromondal Express that left Shalimar at 15.25 hrs on 29th October, 2023 is diverted to run via Vizianagaram, Titilagarh, Raipur, Nagpur, Kazipet and Vijayawada
Train No. 12842 Dr MGR Chennai Central – Shalimar Coromondal Express that left Dr MGR Chennai Central at 07.00 hrs on 29th October, 2023 is diverted to run via Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Nagpur, Raipur, Jharsuguda, Kharagpur
Train No. 12504 Agarthala – SMVT Bengaluru Humsafar Express (running via Perambur, Katpadi) that left Agarthala at 05.30 hrs on 29th October, 2023 is diverted to run via Vizianagaram, Titilagarh, Raipur, Nagpur, Kazipet and Vijayawada
Train No. 22852 Mangaluru Central – Santragachi Vivek Superfast Express that left Mangaluru Central at 23.00 hrs on 28th October, 2023 is diverted to run via Vijayawada, Nagpur, Raipur, Jharsuguda, Kharagpur
Train No. 22503 Kanniyakumari – Dibrugarh Vivek Express that left Kanniyakumari at 17.25 hrs on 28th October, 2023 is diverted to run via Eluru, Vijayawada, Nagpur, Raipur, Jharsuguda, Kharagpur
Train N0. 12840 Dr MGR Chennai Central – Howrah Superfast Mail that left Dr MGR Chennai Central at 19.00 hrs on 29th October, 2023 is diverted to run via Vijayawada, Nagpur, Raipur, Jharsuguda, Kharagpur
Train No. 13351 Dhanbad – Alappuzha Express that left Dhanbad at 11.35 hrs on 29th October, 2023 is diverted to run via Jharsuguda, Raipur, Nagpur, Kazipet and Vijayawada
Train No. 12835 Hatia – SMVT Bengaluru Express (running via Katpadi, Jolarpettai) that left Hatia at 18.20 hrs on 29th October, 2023 is diverted to run via Jharsuguda, Raipur, Nagpur, Kazipet and Vijayawada
Train No. 12864 SMVT Bengaluru – Howrah Express (running via Jolarpettai, Katpadi) that left SMVT Bengaluru at 10.35 hrs on 29th October, 2023 is diverted to run via Vijayawada, Nagpur, Raipur, Jharsuguda and Kharagpur