13 Dead Train Passengers Identified in Andhra Pradesh Accident
Visakhapatnam, Oct 30: Thirteen victims of the tragic train accident that occurred in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district on Sunday have been identified, with officials confirming the current death toll at 13.
District Collector Nagalakshmi of Vizianagaram shared that two bodies remain to be identified among the deceased.
The identified victims include SMS Rao, the loco pilot of the Visakhapatnam-Rayagada passenger train, Gangman Chinatala Krishnam Naidu of Vizianagaram, and M. Srinivas, a passenger guard on the Visakhapatnam Palasa train.
The other victims have been identified as Kanchubaraki Ravi, Karanam Appalanaidu, Challa Sathish, Pilla Nagaraju, Reddi Seetham Naidu, Majji Ramu, all hailing from Vizianagaram district, and Gidijala Lakshmi and Tenkala Sugunamma, both from Srikakulam.
The bodies of the deceased will be handed over to their respective families following the completion of autopsies.
The District Collector oversaw relief operations from the government general hospital in Vizianagaram. She noted that 50 injured individuals are currently receiving treatment at Vizianagaram hospital, with one patient each transferred to KGH, NRI, and Medicover hospitals in Visakhapatnam.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs. 10 lakh for the next of kin of passengers from the state who lost their lives in the accident. He has also declared Rs. 2 lakh for each of the injured from the state.
For the families of the deceased from other states, a compensation of Rs. 2 lakh each has been announced, with the injured set to receive an assistance of Rs. 50,000 each.
The tragic accident unfolded when the Visakhapatnam-Palasa passenger train was struck from behind by the Visakhapatnam-Rayagada passenger train near Kantakapalli junction in Kothavalasa block.
According to railway officials, the accident occurred at approximately 7 p.m. when the Visakhapatnam-Rayagada passenger train overshot a signal, colliding with the stationary Visakhapatnam-Palasa passenger train. The derailed coaches of both trains subsequently collided with a goods train on an adjacent track.
In the aftermath of the accident, Biswajit Sahu, Chief Public Relations Official of East Coast Railway in Bhubaneshwar, has confirmed 33 train cancellations, 24 diversions, and 11 partial cancellations.
The Palasa passenger train, halted at the new crossing near Visakha, was struck from behind by the Visakha-Rayagada passenger train originating from Visakhapatnam. The impact led to the derailment of three train coaches, contributing to this tragic incident. #TrainAccident #RayagadaPassenger #Visakhapatnam
Official Railway Statement on Vizianagaram Train Accident:
Vizianagaram: Walther Railway Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Saurabh Prasad, has provided details to the media regarding the tragic train accident that occurred in Vizianagaram district on Monday. The incident transpired last night at 7 o’clock, and immediate track improvement efforts were initiated.
As per the planned schedule, we successfully completed the track restoration work in the afternoon. A comprehensive investigation will be carried out in accordance with the established protocols. Regrettably, three dedicated railway employees lost their lives in this unfortunate accident, and our priority is to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured.
All railway departments worked seamlessly in coordination to address the situation promptly. A Safety Commission team arrived at the scene to conduct an inquiry into the incident. Subsequent to their investigation and reports, an inquiry committee will convene today in the Visakhapatnam Division.
The track on which the train was operating is equipped with an automatic signaling system, and all safety measures were in place.
Walther Railway DRM Saurabh Prasad remains committed to ensuring a thorough and transparent investigation into the accident. Further information on the causes and contributing factors will be disclosed following the receipt of the inquiry report.
We extend our deepest condolences to the affected families and are working diligently to prevent such incidents in the future.
