Bhubaneswar, Oct 30: The death toll in the Andhra Pradesh train accident has risen to 14 as three more people have succumbed to their injuries.
Besides, over 50 people were injured after a collision between two trains caused the derailment of bogies in Vizianagaram district on Sunday.
Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw has shared updates on the rescue operation on X.
He mentioned that 11 coaches from the front of the 08532 Visakhapatnam-Palasa Passenger train have reached Vizianagaram's next station, Alamanda, while nine rear coaches of the 08504 Visakhapatnam-Rayagada Passenger train have been pulled back to the previous station, Kantakapalle. "Other than the derailed and affected coaches, all cleared from the site," his X post read.
According to preliminary information, the reason for the collision is suspected to be human error owing to the overshooting of the signal by the Visakhapatnam-Rayagada train.
Owing to the accident, several trains across India have been diverted, canceled or short-terminated.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Naveen patnaik has directed Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Sudam Marandi to visit the mishap site and also meet the injured people at the hospital. Marandi will be accompanied by Additional SRC.
On the other hand, restoration work at the site is going on in war footing basis. East Coast Railway General Manager Manoj Sharma is monitoring the restoration work at the accident site along with Principal Heads of Departments of ECoR and Divisional Railway Manager Waltair. As many as eight Poclain Machines, one 140 Tons Crain (Rail Crain) and 800 to 900 Manpower are engaged in the restoration work.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy issued orders to take immediate relief measures and send as many ambulances as possible from Visakhapatnam and the nearest districts of Vizianagaram to the accident site. He also ordered all kinds of arrangements in nearby hospitals, so that the wounded persons could be provided with good medical care.
The Chief Minister further ordered the railway authorities to coordinate with other government departments, including health, police and revenue to take quick-relief measures for the purpose of offering prompt medical services to the injured people.
Reddy has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the family of those dead in the train accident. This financial assistance is for people hailing from Andhra Pradesh. Meanwhile, families of those who died but belonged to other states will be given Rs 2 lakh each. Andhra Pradesh passengers who are severely wounded will receive a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each, and those from other states will get Rs 50,000 each.
