Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnav flagged off the inaugural run of the augmented LHB rakes of the Hirakhand Express through video conferencing.
LHB rakes have been designed with superior features, focus on safety, speed, and passengers' comfort. The train will now run with 12 coaches including one AC 2 Tier, two AC-3 Tier, four Sleeper Class, three Second Class Seating and two Guard cum Luggage and Divyangjan Coaches.
Hirakhand Express which caters to the needs of the people of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh was running with 740 passengers with the old coaches. Following the introduction of the new coaches, the total carrying capacity will increase to around 850 passengers.
Grand arrangements have been made at stations in Berhampur, Srikakulam, Vijayanagaram and Koraput to showcase the flagging off of the new Hirakhand Express with new LHB rakes.
Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches were first introduced in the East Coast Railway in 2013. So far it has introduced 1257 LHB coaches in its fleet covering 39 pairs of mail express trains.
Speaking on the occasion, Vaishnaw said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been stressing upon the need for bringing about reforms in Railways. The vision is to make a wholesome transformation and not just incremental changes." Our Government is pursuing these projects on an express mode. Every year about Rs 6000 crore to Rs 7000 crore is being sanctioned in the budget for development of rail infrastructure in Odisha.”
“The Union government is committed to provide better connectivity and amenities to our esteemed passengers. Introducing new modern LHB rakes in Hirakhand Express will provide better and more pleasant journey experience to train passengers,” Vaishnaw added.
Hirakhand Express covers its journey of 784 kms from Bhubaneswar to Jagdalpur having stoppages at 21 intermediate stations in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh under East Coast Railway jurisdiction.
LHB coaches are anti-telescopic, safer, lighter, and more comfortable and jerk-free. Replacement of ICF conventional coaches phase wise with LHB coaches is being done from safety point of view.
Bhubaneswar: Six wagons of a goods train derailed between Dumuriput and Damanjodi stations in Koraput district last night following which route no 3 of Damanjodi yard has been blocked, East Coast Railway (ECoR) sources said. However, no injury or casualty has been reported.
Additional Divisional Railway Manager (ADRM) of Waltair Railway Division of ECoR zone along with safety officers of engineering, mechanical branches have rushed to the spot.
Relief train with crane reached the accident site from Visakhapatnam and Kirandul. Restoration work is in progress and is expected to be over by afternoon, ECoR sources said.
Following the derailment, Railways cancelled and diverted several trains under Waltair Railway Division of ECoR zone. The passenger trains which have been cancelled are Jagadalpur-Howrah Samaleswari Express, Koraput -Visakhapatnam passenger.
Also Read: IMD rules out cyclone, predicts heavy rainfall for Odisha
Similarly several other trains were short terminated. Visakhapatnam - Kirandul Express was short terminated at Rayagada station.
Bhubaneswar - Jagadalpur Hirakhand Express which had left Bhubaneswar yesterday will run up to Rayagada.
Visakhapatnam - Koraput - Kirandul - Visakhapatnam will run up to Rayagada.
https://youtu.be/_XjhrFeGjsI
Huda is believed to be the mastermind behind a failed attempt to detonate an improvised explosive device on the Ghorasahan track in East Champaran district of Bihar, the Indore-Patna Express train accident in Kanpur on November 20, 2016 and the derailment of Hirakhand Express in Koneru in Andhra Pradesh on January 21.
Meanwhile, the NIA has registered a case against Maoists holding them responsible for the Hirakhand Express mishap.
Sources said the NIA team, led by IG, Mukesh Singh, will stay in Rayagada for about 10 days.
The team will probe into four aspects—whether the speed of the train was more than the prescribed speed limit, whether the railway authorities had set a dummy train on this track before allowing the Hirakhand Express to pass through this route and whether there was any crack on the track and if yes, then had the station master Kuneru railway station any information about this.
Apart from this, the team will also examine the condition of the track, the sources added.
Prior to the visit of this NIA team, a five-member NIA team had visited the accident site near Kuneru railway station a day after the mishap that took place at 11.15 PM when the nine bogies and the engine of Hirakhand Express derailed near Kuneru railway station in which 41 passengers were killed and over 50 passengers were injured.
With Railway suspecting sabotage in derailment of Bhubaneswar bound Express train, the Home Ministry may ask the central probe agency to see if the derailment in Andhra Pradesh today was a subversive act.
Similarly, the officials of CID from Andhra Pradesh have also started inquiry at Kuneru station.
On the other hand, the Commissioner Railway Safety will conduct a thorough inquiry to ascertain the cause of the train derailment from today.
Commissioner (Safety) Ram Kripal will start the probe at the Railway guest house in Rayagada at 5 pm today.
The commissioner is scheduled to meet the injured at Rayagada and Parvatipuram hospital in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh respectively. He will also visit the mishap spot at Kuneru station in the afternoon.
Any individual or passengers survivied can depose before the probe team as witness to the tragic mishap. They can depose before the office of circle superintendent at Dondaparthi in Vishakhapatnam from tomorrow. The deposition process will continue till the end of the inquiry.
The investigation would cover every aspect to ascertain the exact cause of the tragic incident.
Commissioner (Safety) Ram Kripal will start the probe at the Railway guest house in Rayagada at 5 pm today.
Anyone can depose before the probe team as witness to the tragic mishap. They can depose before the office of circle superintendent at Dondaparthi in Vishakhapatnam from tomorrow. The deposition process will continue till the end of the inquiry.
The investigation would cover every aspect to ascertain the exact cause of the tragic incident.
Meanwhile, the death toll due to the tragic accident went up to 40, Rayagada sub-collector Muralidhar Swain said on Sunday night.
On the other hand, a special train attaching twelve unaffected coaches of the illfated express arrived in Bhubaneswar on Sunday night carrying the passengers who survived.
The accident took place around 11.30 pm when the train was going from Jagdalpur to Bhubaneswar. It had departed from Jagdalpur at 3 pm on Saturday and was scheduled to reach Bhubaneswar at 8.25 am on Sunday.
Bhubaneswar: War of words today ensued between leaders of BJD, Congress and BJP following Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express tragedy which claimed 39 lives late last night near Kuneru in Andhra Pradesh.
BJD spokesperson Pratap Deb said, “If people of the country lose lives, there is no point of talking on modernization in railways. We appeal the Central government as well as the Railway Minister to give safety of rail passengers at the utmost priority.”
Alleging lackadaisical attitude of the Railway Ministry towards past train mishaps, Prasad Harichandan, PCC chief, said, “These kind of tragedies have been occurring frequently. But the Railway authorities seem not to give that much importance which it should have given otherwise.”
Besides, the PCC chief demanded for an increase in the ex-gratia amount announced by the Central government.
Also read: 39 killed as 10 coaches of Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Express derail
Refuting the charges, BJP national secretary said, “To make a 100-year-old system correct, the Centre is talking of modernisation plan with a focus on safety.”
Without mentioning about BJD, Pujari stated, “In each and every instance, parties should stop finding faults of the Centre. The State’s people will be actually benefitted when the politicians would think about Odisha’s development.”
The Odisha government has declared Rs 5 lakh compensation each to the family of deceased from the State and free treatment of the injured who are undergoing treatment at various hospital.
Similarly, the neighbouring State has declared same amount for the families of dead passengers from Andhra Pradesh.
Andhra Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, currently visiting Switzerland, tweeted that the amount will be in addition to Rs 2 lakh announced by the Ministry of Railways.
The compensation will be paid under Chandranna Bima, the state insurance scheme.
"Families of victims from AP who lost their lives in the railway accident will get Rs. 5 lakh compensation under Chandranna Bima. This compensation is in addition to the Rs.2 lakh announced by Union Railways Minister.", he tweeted.
Naidu further said that he was anguished to learn about the derailment of the Jagadalpur-Bhubaneswar Express. At least 50 persons were injured in the accident.
Earlier in the day, the Railways declared Rs 2 lakh compensation to each family of deceased.
At least 39 people were killed and 50 injured when the Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express derailed at around 11.30 pm on Saturday near Kuneru station in Andhra Pradesh, 24 km away from Rayagada in Odisha. The train was on its way to Bhubaneswar from Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh.
The incident took place around 11 PM yesterday when the train was on its way to Bhubaneswar from Jagdalpur.
The engine and nine coaches of train no- 18448 Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Express went off the track near Kuneru station, Chief PRO of East Coast Railway J P Mishra told PTI.
Rayagada Sub-collector Muralidhar Swain said that the number of injured could be around 100. The casualty figure may go up as many people are trapped, he added.
District administration of both Vizianagaram and Rayagada are taking active part in rescue operations, said Mishra.
The train had 22 coaches.
Services were affected on Rayagada and Vijayanagaram route, with at least 3 trains cancelled and 8 others diverted.
13 unaffected coaches including luggage-cum-guard van left for Rayagada and they will proceed to Bhubaneswar via Sambhalpur-Angul route. If necessary, extra coaches will be added at Rayagada, Mishra said.
Railways have tied up with Parvatipuram bus depot to arrange for transport. 5 buses have already been arranged to take the passengers towards Palasa and Berhampur areas.
A total of 15 buses are being arranged to take the stranded passengers to their respective destinations.
Over 10 ambulances have been deployed to take the injured to hospital.
At Parvatipuram govt hospital, 22 injured people were taken for treatment from where 7 were referred to Visakhapatnam. 34 were taken to Rayagada district hospital, Mishra said.
Railways have set up helplines at various stations in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
The numbers for Vizianagaram are: 83331, 83332, 83333, 83334, 08922-221202, 08922-221206
Visakhapatnam: 83003, 83005, 83006, 0891-2746344, 0891-2746330, 08500358610, 08500358712
Rayagada: 06856-223400, 06856-223500, 09439741181, 09439741071, 07681878777
Khurda: 0674-2490670.
Bhubaneswar station: 06742543360.
Behrampur station: 06802229632.
The incident occurred on Saturday at 11.30 p.m. near Kuneru station, 24 km from Rayagada in Odisha. The train was enroute to Odisha's capital Bhubaneswar from Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh.
Also read: Hirakhand Express derailment: Death toll reaches 39; more than 50 injured
Expressing their condolences, the actors in the hindi film fraternity took to their Twitter accounts. Here is what the celebs had to say:
Boman Irani: Condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives and a speedy recovery for the injured. Prayers. Hirakhand Express accident.
Anupam Kher: Deeply saddened by Hirakhand Express tragedy. My heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their dear one. Praying for the injured.
Randeep Hooda: Heart goes out the victims of the accident and families.We have to find local vigilance of the tracks Hirakhand Express.
R. Madhavan: 32 Killed, 54 Injured After Hirakhand Express Derails In Andhra Pradesh... oh god. Not again... what's happening.
Bhubaneswar: Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu today said "stringent action" will be taken against those found responsible for the derailment of Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express today which has killed at least 39 people.
"The cause of the accident will be probed. It is an unfortunate incident. Stringent action will be taken against those found responsible," Prabhu told reporters after meeting the injured passengers from the train at Rayagada district headquarters hospital.
"Those responsible for the derailment will not be spared ...Stringent action will be taken against those who played with the lives of so many people," he said.
Also read: Hirakhand Express derailment: Death toll reaches 39; more than 50 injured
Prabhu, who was accompanied by Railway Board chairman A K Mittal and other senior officials, also visited the accident site near Kuneru railway station in Andhra Pradesh bodering Odisha.
Senior Railway officials said efforts are on to clear and restore the affected tracks at the earliest to ensure normal traffic on the route.
"Men and machinery are working on a war footing to remove the derailed bogies and set the track fit. Normal train services are likely to be resumed on the route by early tomorrow morning," they said.
Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Secretary A P Padhi along with DGP K B Singh and Health Secretary P K Meherda met the injured passengers admitted at Rayagada government hospital.
While 19 seriously injured passengers are under treatment at Rayagada, 13 others have suffered minor injury. Twelve passengers have been rushed to a hospital in Parvathipuram, while nine seriously injured ones have been admitted at the Vishakhapatanam hospital.
https://youtu.be/b-ryFpTrR2M
"The state government has provided all support to the Railways in the rescue operation. The Railways has its own procedure for investigation into such type of accidents. It is a sad incident where 39 people have died and over 100 others were injured," Padhi said.
Most of the bodies have been identified and handed over to their families, he said adding Odisha government is committed to ensure proper treatment for injured passengers.
"The Home Ministry may ask the NIA to see if the derailment in Andhra Pradesh today was a subversive act. The NIA can expand the scope of their ongoing probe," official sources said.
The National Investigation Agency is looking into the claims of three arrested persons that the derailment of Indore-Patna express on November 20, 2016 in which at least 150 people were killed, was carried out at the behest of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
The trio -- Moti Paswan, Uma Shankar and Mukesh Yadav -- were arrested last week from East Champaran district of Bihar.
They had claimed to have got Rs 3 lakh to plant improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at Ghorasahan railway station under the district on October 1 last year. Bihar Police has reportedly recovered the IEDs.
Also read: Hirakhand Express derailment: Death toll reaches 39; more than 50 injured
A team of NIA officials has already gone to Bihar to probe the accused and verify their claim.
The three arrested persons have reportedly "confessed" about the ISI's possible role in the last year's derailment.
They also claimed to be working for the ISI, the sources said.
At least 39 people lost their lives due to the derailment of Hirakhand Express at Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh last night.
Railway spokesperson Anil Saxena said there are indications of foul play as a goods train passed the same track just two hours before the mishap, which occurred in the Naxal-prone zone just ahead of the Republic Day.
However, Odisha Police ruled out involvement of Naxals in the mishap. Odisha DGP K B Singh said "there is no indication of Maoist hand behind the derailment."
According to railways, prima facie there was rail fracture which caused the derailment. But it has to be ascertained through whether the fracture was due to sabotage or because of negligence and lack of maintenance.
Also read: Stringent action against guilty in Hirakhand Exp mishap: Prabhu
"The real cause will be known only after inquiry by the Commissioner Railway Safety," Saxena said.
"There are indications of foul play as goods train passed the same track just two hours before the mishap. The inspection by the patrol team also found the track okay yesterday," he said
"The driver applied emergency brake after feeling a big jerk and heard a loud sound. The area is Naxal prone and the incident happened just ahead of Republic Day," Saxena said.
Railway Protection Force Director General S K Bhagat said, "Nothing can be ruled out right now. But the actual cause will be ascertained only after the inquiry."
Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu said all angles will be probed and "stringent action" will be taken against those found responsible for it.
"Those responsible for the derailment will not be spared ... Stringent action will be taken against those who played with the lives of so many people," he said.
Also read: Probe into Hirakhand Express mishap to begin from tomorrow
The mishap comes at a time when Railway Protection Force is on extra vigil in view of Republic Day as there is always apprehension of terror attacks around this period.
Besides, railways has strengthened the safety preparedness after two consecutive train derailments near Kanpur recently, including the one in November.
The implications are scary. There was a definite message in the fact that a team of the National Investigating Agency (NIA) reached the site of the derailment of the Hirakhand Express near Kuneru station late on Saturday night that left at least 39 dead and over 50 injured even before the probe ordered by the Railway minister Suresh Prabhu and headed by Railway Safety Commissioner, South Central could begin. It opens up a whole new dimension to the question of railway safety on the one hand and terrorism/Maoism on the other.
What makes sabotage a distinct possibility is the revelation by the Railways that a goods train had passed through the same stretch less than half an hour (10.52 pm, to be precise) before the Hirakhand Express derailed at 11.15 pm. As per the protocol followed in Maoist infested areas, a Railway patrol team had apparently checked the tracks at 10.40 pm. If that indeed was the case, it is abundantly clear that whatever happened to the track happened between 10.52 pm to 11.15 pm.
Talking to a Railway engineer friend, I realized how easy it is to sabotage a railway track and cause an accident. The easiest way to do this is apparently to remove a fish plate. But since fish plates have been phased out on most tracks in the country, removing the pendral clips, which bind the track to the concrete structures that have replaced the fish plates of yore, is the next best option for a would-be saboteur. Then there is the option of slicing off a small part of the track, which can cause the train to derail. (If the engineer friend is to be believed, cutting off even an inch of the track is enough to cause derailment). Other ways of achieving the same result also available to the potential saboteur are removing the key to something called the Switch Expansion Joint (SEJ), unlocking the lock that holds two tracks that converge on one another – usually close to stations - and putting something by the side of the track that can cause the wheels to upturn. And the real frightening part is: a few minutes is all that one needs to exercise any of these options.
Also Read: ‘Taking the bull by the horns’ may be disastrous
Of course, it is entirely possible that the sabotage theory is a red herring and the derailment was actually the result of poor track maintenance. [The engineer friend, for one, was insistent that in floating the sabotage theory, Railway officials are merely trying to cover up their failure.] Though Railway officials have ruled it out, track fracture is a possibility. It can be caused either by extreme weather (intense cold or heat) or the failure to carry out timely de-stressing of the joints that hold pieces of the track together or both. But it would be foolish to dismiss it outright, especially in view of the ‘confession’ by three persons arrested by Bihar police that they had been paid by ISI to sabotage the track leading to the derailment of the Patna-Indore Express near Kanpur in November last year that left 150 people dead. Though the NIA, which is probing the sabotage angle, is yet to get any lead to back the claim of the Bihar police, it would be prudent to dig deeper and arrive at the truth.
Even if the Kanpur and Kuneru mishaps, which together killed 190 persons, are ultimately proved to be the result of poor track maintenance, it is incumbent on the Railway authorities and the Home ministry to take a long and hard look at the possibility of sabotage in future. Even if no terrorist organization or Maoist outfit has so far indulged in sabotage to cause death on a large scale (which again is uncertain in view of the Samata Express mishap), there is no harm in putting in place measures to foil any such attempt in future because extremists of all hues are searching for newer and deadlier ways of causing havoc. As they say, it is always better to be safe than be sorry.
Koraput Station Master informed that Hirakhand Express which was on its way to Jagdalpur was halted at Koraput station and returned back to Bhubaneswar in the evening.
A relief train was sent to the spot to clear the track as soon as possible.
Train no. 18437/18438 Bhubaneswar-Junagarh Road Express between Bhubaneswar & Junagarh Road and Train no. 18447/18448 Bhubaneswar-Jagdalpur Hirakhand Express between Bhubaneswar and Jagdalpur, will soon run as separate services, sources said.
In view of the long-standing demands of the passengers travelling to and from southern Odisha districts, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Steel Dharmendra Pradhan had urged the Rail Minister seeking the latter's personal intervention into the demands for running two independent trains.
After Piyush Goyal's approval, Pradhan took to Twitter to thank him and stated that this will go a long way in providing better connectivity to passengers travelling to and from Odisha.
Pradhan wrote " Thank Piyush Goyal ji for acceding to my request for running Train no. 18437/18438 Bhubaneswar-Junagarh Road Express between Bhubaneswar & Junagarh Road and Train no 18447/18448 Bhubaneswar-Jagdalpur Hirakhand Express between Bhubaneswar and Jagdalpur, as separate services."