Visakhapatnam/Bhubaneswar: At least nine persons died and 29 were injured after two trains collided in Vizianagaram district on the Howrah-Chennai line Sunday evening, a police official said. A senior official of the East Coast Railway said the Palasa Passenger hit the Rayagada Passenger from rear at Kankatapalli, which caused three coaches to derail. A senior Railway official meanwhile said 29 people were injured, adding that the injured are being shifted to hospitals in Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram. The accident took place between Alamanda and Kantakapalli in VizianagaramKottavalasa Railway Section of Waltair Division of East Coast Railway at about 1900hrs.
The 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 VisakhapatnamRayagada Passenger got derailed, the official added. “Likely reason: Human error. Overshooting of the signal by Visakhapatnam- Rayagada passenger train,” ECoR CPRO Biswajit Sahoo told reporters in Bhubaneswar. While explaining the term overshooting, the CPRO said that it occurs when a train, instead of stopping at a red signal, moves on.
PM Narendra Modi’s Office posted on X, saying the PM was in touch with Railway Minister and that all assistance was being provided to those affected. The PM has announced an exgratia of Rs 2 lakh from the PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw posted on X saying all passengers have been shifted from the accident spot. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed deep grief over the deaths in the train accident. The CM has directed the Special Relief Commissioner and the District Collectors of Rayagada and Koraput to extend immediate help in rescue and relief operations.