The death toll in the train collision incident at Vizianagaram district in Andhra Pradesh touched 15 on Monday morning. As many as 50 people have been injured.
The mishap occurred on Sunday evening when the Visakhapatnam-Rayagada passenger train hit the Visakhapatnam-Palasa passenger train from the rear at Kantakapalli, about 40 km from Visakhapatnam. Following the incident, 33 trains have been cancelled, 22 trains diverted and 11 trains partially cancelled.
Biswajit Sahu, Chief Public Relations Officer of the East Coast Railway, said that the track restoration work is currently underway. “We are presently focusing on the track restoration work as the rescue operation is over. We have arranged buses and trains for the stranded passengers. We plan to clear the track by 4 pm today,” Sahu added.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnav spoke with Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Sunday evening and briefed him about the steps being taken to “help” the victims of the Andhra train accident. The Andhra CMO Office said in a statement that the government will provide Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 2 lakh for those seriously injured in the accident.
“In case of death of people from other states, Rs 2 lakh each will be provided as compensation for bereaved families and Rs 50,000 for those seriously injured,” the CMO Office posted on X.
Meanwhile, the ghastly accident also led to the cancellation of as many as 12 trains on Monday. According to the East Coast Railway official, 15 trains have also been diverted while seven others have been partially cancelled.
” A total of 12 trains have been cancelled…15 trains diverted and there is partial cancellation of 7 trains. We have made bus arrangements for passengers so that they are not trapped in the area…We have partially recovered (the tracks)…” Biswajit Sahu, CPRO, East Coast Railway said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Vaishnaw and took stock of the situation. “PM Modi spoke to Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw and took stock of the situation in the wake of the unfortunate train derailment between Alamanda and Kantakapalle section,” PMO said in a post on X.
“Authorities are providing all possible assistance to those affected. The Prime Minister extends condolences to the bereaved families and prays that the injured recover soon,” the post added.
Union Railway Ministry has also announced ex-gratia for the victims. “All injured shifted to hospitals. Ex-gratia compensation disbursement started — Rs 10 Lakh in case of death, Rs 2 Lakh towards grievous and Rs 50,000 for minor injuries,” Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw posted on ‘X’.
Expressing shock over the incident, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy also instructed officials to pay an ex-gratia amount of Rs 10 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and Rs 2 lakh each to the injured from the state. As per an official release, he also announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each for the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each for the injured from other states.
