Tragic Train Collision in Andhra Pradesh Leaves Nine Dead and Dozens Injured

In a devastating incident in Andhra Pradesh, a collision between two passenger trains has claimed at least nine lives and left over 30 people injured. The tragic accident occurred on the Howrah-Chennai railway line in Vizianagaram district on Sunday evening, according to officials.

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In a devastating incident in Andhra Pradesh, a collision between two passenger trains has claimed at least nine lives and left over 30 people injured. The tragic accident occurred on the Howrah-Chennai railway line in Vizianagaram district on Sunday evening, according to officials.

The mishap unfolded when the Palasa passenger train collided with the Rayagada passenger train, causing three coaches to derail. This unfortunate incident took place near Kankatapalli, leading to the loss of nine lives, as confirmed by Biswajit Sahu, the Chief Public Relations Officer of the East Coast Railway.

Vizianagaram Collector S Nagalakshmi provided information that at least 32 individuals sustained injuries in the collision. These injured passengers are currently being transferred to hospitals in Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram to receive medical treatment.

The government swiftly responded to this tragic incident, with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announcing ex-gratia payments for the victims. He stated, "All injured have been shifted to hospitals, and ex-gratia compensation disbursement has begun, with Rs 10 Lakh for fatalities, Rs 2 Lakh for grievous injuries, and Rs 50,000 for minor injuries."

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed his shock over the accident and directed officials to provide an ex-gratia amount of Rs 10 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 2 lakh to each injured individual from the state. Additionally, a compensation of Rs 2 lakh was announced for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured from other states.

Divisional Railway Manager Saurabh Prasad visited the accident site and stated that efforts were underway to assess the exact number of casualties. The entangled coaches were being separated to gain a clearer picture of the situation.

Rescue operations were initiated, with numerous injured passengers in serious condition being admitted to hospitals for treatment. Dr. Anila Sunandini, Superintendent of the Government General Hospital in Vizianagaram, reported on the status of the injured passengers.

The accident occurred in the Vizianagaram-Kottavalasa railway section of the Waltair division of the East Coast Railway zone. Two trains, namely 08532 (Visakhapatnam-Palasa passenger) and 08504 (Visakhapatnam-Rayagada passenger special), were involved in the accident, with the Rayagada passenger train overshooting the signal.

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Rescue operations were in full swing, involving the DRM, Waltair, and his team, along with accident relief trains and other equipment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been in contact with the railway minister, ensuring that all necessary assistance is provided to those affected.

Authorities are working tirelessly to coordinate rescue operations and provide aid to the victims of this tragic train collision in Andhra Pradesh. The darkness has posed challenges, but local authorities and the National Disaster Response Force are actively assisting in the efforts to manage the situation.