A heartbreaking incident occurred in Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh, as a passenger train en route from Visakhapatnam to Rayagada in Odisha derailed, claiming the lives of at least six individuals, and leaving 25 others injured on Sunday.
The tragic event unfolded when a rear-end collision transpired between the Visakhapatnam-Palasa passenger train and the Visakhapatnam-Ragada passenger train, involving three coaches. Ten passengers sustained injuries in the process. Swift response efforts, including the involvement of local administration and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), were set in motion, along with the dispatch of ambulances and accident relief trains to the scene, according to a senior railways’ official cited by news agency ANI.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy swiftly ordered immediate relief measures, directing the dispatch of ambulances from the nearest districts, Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli, and the establishment of appropriate arrangements at nearby hospitals to provide essential medical care. The CM's office stated, "The Chief Minister has issued orders to coordinate other government departments, including health, police, and revenue, to take quick-relief measures and ensure that the injured receive prompt medical services."
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office responded to the tragic incident by confirming that PM@narendramodi had spoken to Railway Minister Shri @AshwiniVaishnaw, receiving an update on the situation following the unfortunate train derailment between the Alamanda and Kantakapalle section. The authorities were mobilized to offer all possible assistance to those affected, and the Prime Minister extended condolences to the grieving families while hoping for the swift recovery of the injured.
The Indian Railways promptly released helpline numbers for the victims of the train accident that took place between Alamanda and Kantakapalle in the Vizianagaram-Kottavalasa Railway section of Waltair Division of East Coast Railway in the Howrah-Chennai Main Line.
This tragic incident is reminiscent of a massive accident that occurred earlier in the year when the Coromandel Express collided with a stationary freight train near Bahanaga Bazar station in Odisha's Balasore on June 2. The collision resulted in the loss of at least 288 lives and left over 1,100 individuals injured, underscoring the urgency of railway safety measures and diligent response efforts.
