In Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district on Sunday evening, two passenger trains collided on the Howrah-Chennai line, resulting in loss of life and numerous injuries. The collision occurred at approximately 7 pm when the Palasa passenger train rear-ended the Rayagada passenger train near Kankatapalli, causing three coaches to derail.
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The Palasa passenger train and the Rayagada passenger train, operating on the bustling Howrah-Chennai line, found themselves entangled in a collision.
This incident resulted in the derailment of three coaches, leading to the loss of lives and numerous injuries.
According to the information provided by Vizianagaram Collector S Nagalakshmi, at least 32 people were injured in the collision, many of whom sustained serious injuries.
Rescue operations were initiated, and the injured were shifted to hospitals in Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram, where medical teams worked to provide them with the necessary care and attention.
The severity of this incident prompted immediate action from the government and railway authorities. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced ex-gratia payments to the victims and their families.
He stated that “All injured shifted to hospitals. Ex-gratia compensation disbursement started — Rs 10 Lakh in case of death, Rs 2 Lakh towards grievous and Rs 50,000 for minor injuries.”
Expressing deep shock and condolences over the incident, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy instructed officials to provide ex-gratia payments to the kin of the deceased.
He announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of the deceased from the state and Rs 2 lakh each to the injured.
The chief minister’s support even further, as he offered a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each for the kin of the deceased from other states and Rs 50,000 each for the injured from other states.
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The Ministry of Railways and Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) also took steps to address the crisis. Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally monitored the situation, expressing condolences to the bereaved families and offering prayers for the swift recovery of the injured.
He was in touch with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, ensuring that all possible assistance was provided to those affected.
Divisional Railway Manager Saurabh Prasad arrived at the accident site to oversee the rescue efforts. The entangled coaches were examined, and the precise number of casualties was ascertained.
The complexity of the situation was compounded by the darkness of the night, which posed challenges to the ongoing rescue operations. Nevertheless, the dedicated railway teams remained resolute in their efforts.
The incident took place between Alamanda and Kantakapalli in the Vizianagaram-Kottavalasa railway section, which falls under the Waltair division of the East Coast Railway zone.
The two trains involved in the accident were identified as train number 08532 (Visakhapatnam-Palasa passenger) and train number 08504 (Visakhapatnam-Rayagada passenger special).
Investigations indicated that the Rayagada passenger train had overshot the signal, leading to the collision.
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The East Coast Railway (ECR) mobilized accident relief trains and other rescue equipment to provide support.
Helplines were established to facilitate communication with the affected passengers and their families, making sure they had access to the latest updates on the situation.
The swift response from railway authorities, local administration and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were informed about the incident.
Ambulances and additional relief teams were deployed to the site, demonstrating the coordinated effort of various agencies to mitigate the crisis.
The collision of the two passenger trains in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district has left a deep impact on the region and the nation as a whole.
The loss of life and the suffering of the injured passengers have underscored the need for safety measures and rigorous protocols to prevent such incidents in the future.
The incident is a reminder of the dangers and risks associated with rail travel. It prompts a broader discussion on railway safety, infrastructure maintenance, and the training of railway personnel to ensure that such accidents can be prevented.
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