Death toll rises to 36 after derailment of Jagdalpur - Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express in Andhra Pradesh

Vizianagaram: As per available latest information, 36 are deceased, 23 sustained injuries in the unfortunate train derailment near Rayagada of Andhra Pradesh. The injured have been admitted to the various hospitals. Some passengers with small injuries were discharged after the first aid. Medical relief train has rushed to the spot. Ambulances were also arranged. NDRF unit also taking necessary relief measures at the accident site.

Minister of Railways Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu has expressed profound grief over the loss of innocent lives. It is a tragic and unfortunate accident. He has announced an enhanced ex-gratia payment of Rs. 2 lakhs for the next kin of deceased persons, Rs. 50 thousand for grievous injuries and Rs.25 thousand in case of simple injuries. Statutory inquiry into this incident has been ordered to be conducted by Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), South Central Circle, Ram Kripal under the Ministry of Civil Aviation. He may visit the accident site later in the day.

The derailment of train number 18448 Jagdalpur – Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express took place at Kuneru Railway Station in Vizianagaram district in Andhra Pradesh at Rayagada – Vizianagaram section on Saturday midnight. The accident site is at the border of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh and is near Rayagada town in Odisha. The Accident site falls under Waltair Division of East Coast Railways. Engine and 9 coaches including one Passenger cum luggage coach, two Ordinary second class coaches, four sleeper classes, one AC three tier coach and one AC two tier coach derailed.

Minister of Railways Suresh Prabhu rushed to the accident site along with Chairman Railway Board AK Mital. Earlier, Member Rolling Stock Railway Board Ravinder Gupta, Member Engineering Railway Board Aditya Kumar Mittal rushed to the site.

Stranded passengers of the affected trains were later cleared towards their respective destinations through the unaffected portion of the train from Kuneru to Bhubaneswar via Rayagada – Sambalpur and 13 buses for short distance destinations like Brahmapur, Bhawanipatna, etc. The Railway Administration also arranged for water, tea, light snacks for the stranded passengers. Due to this accident, the traffic on Rayagada – Vizianagaram Section has been affected and Railways had to divert, short-terminate and cancel certain trains passing through this Section which are being notified by the respective Zonal Railways.

Senior Railway officials including General Manager, East Coast Railway Umesh Singh and Divisional Railway Manager, Waltair Division Chandralekha Mukherjee are camping at the site to monitor the relief and rescue operations. Helpline Numbers were setup at the important stations along the route of the train.