AP train accident: 8 killed, 25 injured as two trains collide
Officials said human error could have led to the collision
Months after the horrific three-train collision in Odisha, which left over 300 people dead, eight people were killed and 25 injured on Sunday (October 29) when an Express Train rammed a stationary passenger train in Andhra Pradesh.
A senior official of the East Coast Railway said the Palasa Passenger hit the Rayagada Passenger from behind at Kankatapalli, which caused three coaches to derail. A senior Railway official meanwhile said 18-20 people were injured, adding that the injured are being shifted to hospitals in Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram.
Officials said a human error could have led to the collision.
Dr S Appala Naidu, Superintendent of the Government General Hospital In-Charge, Vizianagaram, aid, "Ambulances have been sent to the accident sites and as of now we have received 20 injured people, out of which, three are serious. More ambulances are on the way so the number of injured persons might increase." The doctor added, "We haven't received any bodies in the hospital as of now. However, there are reports of death of some passengers too."
East Coast Railway CPRO said that the accident took place between Alamanda and Kantakapalli in Vizianagaram-Kottavalasa Railway Section of Waltair Division of East Coast Railway Zone at about 1900hrs. Officials said that train number 08532 Visakhapatnam-Palasa Passenger train and 08504 Visakhapatnam-Rayagada Passenger Special were involved in the accident and said that the Rayagada passenger had overshot the signal. Two Coaches of 08532 Visakhapatnam-Palasa Passenger train from the rear and the loco of 08504 Visakhapatnam-Rayagada Passenger got derailed, the official added. Rescue operations are underway with DRM/Waltair and his Team on the spot. Accident Relief Trains and other rescue equipments have been engaged, the official said.
Divisional Railway Manager Saurabh Prasad reached the site, and rescue operations are on in full swing.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, reviewing the situation.
Expressing shock over the incident, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy instructed the officials concerned to undertake rescue operations.
