TV
As many as 11 coaches of Kamakhya Express derailed near Nirgundi station in Cuttack’s Choudwar on Sunday. As per initial reports, all the passengers were seen deboarding the train with their luggage soon after the coaches of the train derailed.
There are no reports of any casualties of passengers so far. Till the last report came in, railway officials had not reached the spot.
It was seen that some passengers were leaving the spot on their own to look for alternative measures to reach their respective destinations, said a local.
There are no reports of any casualties of passengers so far. Senior railway officials have reached the spot following the incident.
It was seen that some passengers were leaving the spot on their own to look for alternative measures to reach their respective destinations.
Sources said around 11 coaches of the Kamakhya Express jumped the tracks this morning. The exact reason behind the derailment is unclear.
Response From The Indian Railways
East Coast Railways (ECoR) sources said that initially one coach of the Bengaluru- Kamakhya Express got derailed, following which other bogies of the train also jumped the tracks. The incident occurred at around 11: 54 am on Sunday when it was crossing the Nirgundi railway station.
Khordha DRM and a special rescue train have been sent to the spot following the derailment of the Kamakhya Express, ECoR said.
ECoR Chief PRO Ashok Mishra said, “We got information that the train derailed at around 11:54 am and no passenger has been injured in the incident. An accident relief train has been rushed to the spot. The frontline officers and staff have reached the spot. All resources are being mobilized to carry out necessary measures.”
The helpline number will be shared soon for the stranded passengers. Special measures like water, snacks, and other steps are being taken for the passengers, he said.
Mishra further said that our priority is to ensure that the stranded passengers are sent to their respective destinations.
Cause of Kamakhya Express Derailment
On reports that there was some problem in the track for which the derailment occurred, the ECoR Chief PRO said that it is too early to say what caused the derailment.
"As the mishap occurred on the down-line, restoration work is our priority so that normal train services can resume. All the 11 AC coaches of the train have derailed. A detailed inquiry will be conducted to ascertain the exact cause of the derailment," the chief PRO of ECoR said.
“Our priority is to restore normalcy of the train services on the affected route. Work has also started on a war footing,” Mishra added.
Meanwhile, sources said that one passenger, who sustained serious injuries in the train derailment, has been rushed to the hospital in an ambulance.
Here’s What Kamakhya Express Passengers Say
A passenger said, “We were going to Assam when the train mishap occurred. Our family was returning to Assam from Puri. All the family members are safe. We do not know what will happen next.”
“When the coach derailed, we immediately got down. We have not got any information regarding any injuries. One person who was standing near the gate has sustained injuries. The train was moving very slow for which a major tragedy was averted,” said another passenger.
Another passenger said, “We were inside the coach when we heard a loud noise and the train slowed immediately. It is almost one hour to the derailment but no official has reached the spot and no provision of water despite extreme heat conditions.”
“We were on the way to Guwahati when the mishap occurred. I have sustained injuries on my hand. The administration should make immediate measures to provide water and other facilities so that the stranded passengers do not face problems due to the extreme heat conditions,” said another passenger.
“We do not know why train mishaps are occurring in Odisha. We are hearing that some work was going on and it was not done properly for which the mishap occurred. We are being asked to go to Cuttack, but as this is the route through which we need to go to Kolkata, we have decided to go to the highway and take some bus or other means of transport,” said a passenger.
Trains Diverted:
Following the derailment, these trains have been diverted:
12822 Dhauli Express (BRAG)
12875 Neelachal Express (BBS)
22606 Purulia SF Express (RTN)
Railway Releases Helpline Numbers
Bhubaneswar - 8455885999
Cuttack - 8991124238
Kamakhya Express derailed in Odisha: Latest/New Updates
1 Passenger Dead, 7 Injured
As per sources, one passenger died, while seven others have been admitted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.
The Cuttack CDMO and other senior officials have reached the hospital and are supervising the treatment facilities.
Several NGOs are also extending all possible help to the injured passengers.
“We have seen three injured passengers and providing all possible help in case more injured passengers are brought to SCB,” said a member of an NGO.
A Senior Official Reaches The Spot:
“Our priority is to ensure that all the stranded passengers are sent to their respective destinations. So far 11 coaches have been derailed. The restoration work is likely to take time. The inquiry will be done as per the existing provisions. We are extending all possible help to the stranded passengers. In the next 30 minutes, a special train from Bhubaneswar will take all the stranded passengers to their respective destinations,” a senior official said after reaching the spot.
