Over 25 wagons of iron-ore laden goods train derail inside tunnel in Odisha

A major train derailment has been reported near Chimidipalli in the Araku–Kottavalasa section under Waltair Division of East Coast Railway. The iron-ore laden freight train en route from Koraput to Visakhapatnam derailed inside a tunnel, causing more than 25 wagons to go off the track on the Kottavalasa–Kirandul (KK) railway line, a vital freight corridor connecting Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.

The iron-ore laden freight train en route from Koraput to Visakhapatnam derailed inside a tunnel, causing more than 25 wagons to go off the track.

According to railway sources, the incident occurred between Chimidipalli and Andhra's Tyda station, in a remote and hilly stretch of the KK Line. The freight train, carrying iron-ore to Visakhapatnam, suddenly derailed while passing through one of the tunnels in the section. Preliminary reports indicate that the cause of the derailment is still under investigation.

Local railway authorities and emergency response teams have rushed to the site to assess the situation and begin track clearance operations. Though no casualties have been reported so far, the derailment has severely disrupted train movement on the route, which is frequently used for transporting minerals and industrial goods.

Restoration work is expected to take several hours, if not days, due to the difficult terrain and the number of derailed wagons. Senior officials from the East Coast Railway are monitoring the situation closely and have initiated a probe into the incident.

The KK Line, which runs through challenging hilly terrain and several tunnels, has often been a site of operational challenges for Indian Railways.

It is pertinent to mention here that several parts of Odisha are experiencing rainfall activities under the influence of a low-pressure system. It is expected that the repair and restoration works might take some time due to rain-related activities.

ECoR officials said, "25 wagons of a loaded (iron ore) goods train derailed near Chimidipalli at 13.05 hrs in the Araku–Kottavalasa section under Waltair Division of East Coast Railway. Senior railway officials immediately rushed to the site to assess the situation for expediting the restoration work."

In the official statement, it has been informed that a relief train was promptly dispatched to undertake restoration operations. This is predominantly a freight  line. Some passenger trains between Visakhapatnam and Kirandul have been diverted via Vizianagaram and Rayagada. Resources mobilization in full swing to ensure swift restoration.