The eight coaches of Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand express train derailed near Kuneru station (Andhra Pradesh) 30 km from Rayagada in Odisha at around 11PM on Saturday night. At least 39 passengers have been killed and several others have been injured.
The rescue operations are on at a war footing, the railway officials said.
The relief train has reached the spot and train passengers have been able to communicate with their families and relatives, Chief PRO of East Coast Railway JP Mishra informed.
Hirakhand Express left Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh at around 3PM on Saturday and reached Rayaga at around 11PM. The accident took place approximately 30 KM outside Rayagada.
The injured have been shifted to 2 hospitals at Parbatipuram and Rayagada. A team of doctors has reached the accident site. District administration of both Vizianagaram and Rayagada are taking active part in rescue operations, said Mishra.
The train had 22 coaches.
Services were affected on Rayagada and Vizianagaram route, with several trains diverted.
“Total 4 accident relief vans rushed from different places. Priority is treatment, shifting of injured passengers to nearest hospital. @sureshpprabhu personally monitoring situation, directed senior officials to reach site immediately, ensure prompt rescue and relief ops,” the railway ministry said in a series of tweets.
“05 Buses arranged to carry passengers towards Brahmapur, Palasa and Vizianagaram, free of cost,” the East Coast Railway tweeted.
(With Inputs from PTI)
Helpline numbers for the families of passengers:
BSNL NO06856-223400, 06856-223500, BSNL 9439741181, 9439741071, Airtel07681878777
Helpline numbers for Vizianagaram railway station:
83331, 83332, 83333,83334, BSNL Land Line 08922-221202, 08922-221206 and mobile number8500358610, 08500358712
Helpline numbers for Vishakhapatnam railway station:
83003,83005, 83006,BSNL land line 8912746344, 891246330
Here are the live updates:
# There will be probe and defaulters will be punished.Centre and both state governments working on relief measures: Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu
# Met relatives of those who lost lives; share their grief; directed concerned Railway officials to ensure payment of ex-gratia w/o delay, says Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu
# Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu reaches accident site where Hirakhand Express derailed claiming 39 lives so far
#This compensation is in addition to the Rs2 lakh announced by Union Railways Minister: Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu
#Families of victims from AP who lost lives in the railway accident will get Rs 5 lakh compensation under Chandranna Bima: Chandrababu Naidu
#Death toll rises to 36; list of deceased and injured issued
#Instructed Chief Secy,DGP to leave at once to Rayagada. Spoke to Andhra CM to extend all support:Odisha CM Naveen Pattnaik
#Directed for all assistance from Jagdalpur.Helpline has been set up and a team of officials has been rushed to the accident site: Raman Singh
#One NDRF team from Visakhapatnam present at the Hirakhand Express derailment site in Andhra, four teams from Bhubaneswar en route for rescue
#32 have been reported dead, about 50 injured: Poonam Guha, Collector Rayagada
#Spoke to Rail Min,he assured me of best treatment for injured & transport fr affected passengers of #Hirakhand accident: Dharmendra Pradhan (9:10AM)
#The Railway Ministry is monitoring the situation very closely and is working to ensure quick rescue and relief operations: PM Narendra Modi (Read full story here)
#I pray for a speedy recovery of all those injured due to the train accident: PM Narendra Modi
#My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones due to the derailment of Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Express. The tragedy is saddening: PM
#26 people have died according to latest information. 23 injured persons being treated in Rayagada hospital: RP Choudhary, ASP (8:40AM)
#Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu along with Railway Board Chairman A K Mittal rushing to the #HirakhandExpress derailment site in Andhra (8:40AM)
#Sabotage not ruled out in HirakhandExpress derailment, says Railway Ministry sources (Read full story here)
#Railway Minister has expressed grief over the unfortunate accident. Efforts on for rescue: Anil Saxena, Railways on Hirakhand Express derailment
#One unit of National Disaster Response Force has reached the spot, Up and down line between Vijayanagaram-Singhpur affected: Anil Saxena
#Cause to be investigated from all angles. If there was any unusual activity, or tampering with track, it will be probed: Anil Saxena, Railways
#Commissioner Railway Safety (Civil Aviation Ministry) to enquire into Hirakhand Express derailment, he'll inspect site: Anil Saxena, Railways
#Hirakhand express derailment: Railway Min Suresh Prabhu announces Rs 2 lakh for kin of deceased ppl,25K for injured,50K for seriously injured (Read full story here)
#My condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. We are investigating the reason for accident: Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu
#Anguished to learn about train accident near Vizianagaram. We are monitoring the situation & providing help in all ways possible: Andhra CM
The accident comes exactly two months after the horrific Kanpur Patna train accident, which killed over a hundred people. Police are currently investigating links to the underworld and ISI with the tragedy to determine if it was an accident or an act of terror.
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