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.
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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
The deceased, identified as Pabitra Nayak, belongs to Jirala of Kamakhyanagar area in the district.
An engine derailed from the track near the station. He sent some staff to lift the derailed engine and also had gone to the spot to inspect work, an official said.
“He was busy over phone in official matter at the accident site. At that time a goods train hit him and ran over killing him on the spot. We have sent the body to district headquarters hospital for postmortem. The body will be handed over t their family after postmortem”, a GRP official said.
The Ministry, in a release to the media later in the day today said a joint probe would be taken up by the South-Central Commissioner of Hyderabad Circle and the Commissioner, Railway Safety, Ram Kripal from the Railway Officers’ Guest House at Rayagada from tomorrow. On January 24, the duo will inspect the office of the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) at Vishakhapatnam.
Also read: 36 killed as 10 coaches of Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Express derail
The release also said that anyone can depose before the Ministry as witness to the tragic mishap. The investigation would cover every aspect to ascertain the exact cause of the tragic incident.
"There is no indication of Maoist hand behind the derailment of the Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Express," Odisha DGP K B Singh told reporters after attending a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here.
His remarks come in the backdrop of Railway sources suspecting tampering of the track as the area is known to be a Naxal-prone zone.
A senior officer engaged in anti-Maoist operation rejected the possibility of Naxal involvement in the accident.
"We totally reject any possibility of Maoist involvement in the derailment. Kuneru is not a Naxal-hit area," the officer of the intelligence wing said.
The derailment took place at around 11 PM yesterday near Kuneru station in when the train was on its way to Bhubaneswar from Jagdalpur.
"There is no movement of red rebels near the accident site for the last five years. We are even planning to shift the force from the area as there is no report of Naxal movement since a long time," the officer said.
Had Maoists been involved, they could have done it close to Parvathipuram area, he said and asked why should they come to a place where they have no base?
He said, "Yes, the place was Naxal hit about five years ago. But, now the area is totally free of such elements."
The Railway Safety Commissioner under the Civil Aviation Ministry would probe the derailment, Anil Saxena, ADG, PR, Railways, said.
"My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones due to the derailment of Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Express. The tragedy is saddening," the Prime Minsiter's office said in a tweet quoting Modi.
The Prime Minsiter further added that the Railway Ministry was monitoring the situation very closely and is working to ensure quick rescue and relief operations.
"I pray for a speedy recovery of all those injured due to the train accident," said Modi.
Expressing profound shock and grief over the tragic incident, Railway minister Suresh Prabhu today cancelled his scheduled visit to North-Eastern states and rushed to the mishap site to take stock of the rescue and relief operations.
“Deeply pained and anguished at the loss of innocent lives in the unfortunate accident.Pray for the early recovery of those injured. In view of the unfortunate accident,I am cutting short my official visit to the North East and rushing to the site,” Prabhu tweeted.
Union Home Miniser Rajnath Singh also expressed grief over the tragedy. "The news of train accident in Andhra Pradesh is extremely distressing. Deeply pained over the loss of precious lives," the minister tweeted.
Similarly, Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik also expressed profound grief over the death of 34 passengers.
After reviewing the situation arising out of the train derailment at State Secretariat here today, Patnaik, said, “Our government will extend all support as far as the accident is concerned. My deepest condolences to the families of those who died in the accident. I have instructed the chief secretay, the DGP and the health secretary to fly at once to Rayagada. I have just spoken to the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh to extend all support.”
Chief secretary AP Padhi and DGP KB Singh were present during the review meeting.
Talking to newsmen DGP KB Singh said, “32 persons were killed and more than 60 persons sustained injures in the train mishap. The injured persons are undergoing treatment at hospitals. There is no information regarding Maoists involvement in the tragic incident. The picture will be clear after completion of the probe.”
Notably, the Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express derailed on Saturday night at 11.30 p.m., near Kuneru station. The train was enroute to Odisha's capital city Bhubaneswar from Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh.
Over 50 others were also injured.
Informing this to the media this morning, Anil Saxena, ADG, PR, Railway, said a total of 54 passengers have been injured. Those who had sustained minor injuries have been sent to their destinations after first aid.
He said the Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has directed the Railway officials to expedite relief and rescue operations and ensure all possible treatment to the passengers who have sustained grievous injuries.
“The Railway minister has expressed profound grief over the death of 34 passengers and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to each family of the deceased, Rs 50,000 for the passenger who has been severely injured and Rs 25,000 to the passenger who has sustained minor injuries,” he added.
Also read: Railway Safety Commissioner to probe into Hirakhand Express derailment
He said the Railway authorities have made specific arrangements for safe return of the passengers to their destinations. “Out of 22 bogies, nine bogies and the engine have been damaged. We have detached 13 unaffected bogies and brought them back to Rayagada Railway Station from where they would be taken to Bhubaneswar through the diverted routes. Besides, arrangements have been made to provide dry food and drinking water to the stranded passengers. Apart from this, the passengers have been provided with telephone facilities at Rayagada Railway Station so that they would be able to contact their kin. We have expedited relief and rescue operations in the presence of senior railway officials. We have engaged ambulance vans, medical teams and rescue teams to ensure expeditious rescue of the passengers who have been trapped inside the bogies and provide them the best possible treatment at the earliest possible,” Saxena informed.
He said senior Railway officials from Vishakhapatnam and East Coast Railway (ECoR) officials from Bhubaneswar have also reached the spot and are supervising rescue operations.
Also read: Hirakhand Express derailment: 18 deceased identified
He also said due to the mishap, the Up and Down line of Vizianagaram-Singhpur route has been affected. “We are diverting the routes of the some express and passengers trains through other routes,” he pointed out.
Saxena further said that the rescue teams are engaged in the rescue of passengers from three bogies which have been badly damaged. The team members are bringing out the trapped passengers by cutting the door and widow grills.
The Railway Minister, in the meanwhile, has left New Delhi to visit the mishap site and take stock of the rescue operations.
The bodies of 18 victims, including that of six women, have been identified, Additional Divisional Railway Manager Ajay Arora said.
The deceased have been identified as M Krishna (35), P Shrinu (25), B. Kamla (50) of Ganjam, Gayatri Sahoo (14) of Kalyansinghpur, Dillip Kumar Rohit (51), TK Menj, Somu Amnna, Bishnu Sahoo of Bisama Cuttack, Ranjan Nayak (18) of RK Nagar in Rayagada, Subas Chandra Sahoo (60) of Bisama Cuttack, S. Renuka of Ganjam, P. Palli (35), Yashok Pandit, Ramprasad Pandit, K Rebati (16), Mandal Balram, Tapan Kumar Pradhan (26) and Subhabrati Sahoo.
Efforts are on to identify the remaining bodies, the officer said.
36 passengers were killed and around 100 injured after nine coaches of the Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Express derailed in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh late last night.
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 said adding that, the train had 22 coaches.
The seven trains that have been cancelled today by the Railways are 58528 Visakhapatnam-Raipur Passenger, 58503 Rayagada-Visakhapatnam Passenger, 58538 Visakhapatnam-Koraput Passenger, 18309 Sambalpur-Nanded Express, Visakhapatnam-Koraput Passenger, 18448/18438 Jagdalpur-Jungarh Road-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express and 18518 Visakhapatnam-Korba Express.
Besides, ten Express trains would be diverted through other routes.
The 13351 Dhanbad-Allepy Express and 18637 Hatia-Yesvantpur Express will be diverted via Titilagarh-Raipur-Nagpur-Ballarsah while 12843 Puri-Ahmedabad Express and 12375 Chennai-Asansol Express will be diverted via Visakhapatnam-Vijayawada-Nagpur-Ahmedabad and Khurda-Angul-Jharsuguda respectively.
Also read: No involvement of Maoists in train derailment: DGP
Similarly, 12807 Visakhapatnam-Hazrat Nizamuddin Express and 22847 Visakhapatnam-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) Express will be diverted via Duvvada-Vijayawada-Nagpur and Duvvada-Vijayawada-Ballarsah-Nagpur respectively while 18310 Nanded-Sambalpur Express and 12808 Hazrat Nizamuddin-Visakhapatnam Express would be diverted via Khurda Road-Angul and Nagpur-Vijayawada-Duvvada respectively.
Besides, 13352 Aleppy-Dhanbad Express and 12844 Ahmedabad-Puri Express would be diverted via Vizianagarm-Palasa-Angul-Sambalpur and Titilagarh-Sambalpur-Angul-Khurda Road-Puri respectively.
Apart from this, the Railways have short terminated seven trains.
As the release by the Railways, 57271 Vijayawada-Rayagada Passenger will run as 57272 from Visakhapatnam to Vijayawada, 58530 Visakhapatnam-Durg Passenger will run up to Donkinvalasa, 58529 Durg-Visakhapatnam Passenger will run as 58530 from Titlagarh to Durg, 18517 Korba-Visakhapatnam Express will run up to Rayagada, 58537 Koraput-Visakhapatnam Passenger will run as 58538 from Rayagada to Koraput, 18447/18437 Bhubaneswar-Jagadapur-Jungarh Road Express will run up to Vizianagram and 58527 Raipur-Visakhapatnam Passenger will run up to Titlagarh.
This apart, one Passenger Special with stranded passenger of the ill-fated 18448 Jagdalpur-Jungarah Road-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express with 13 coaches has run from Kuneru to Bhubaneswar via Rayagada-Titilagarh-Sambalpur-Angul.
Also read: Nearly 100 NDRF personnel rush to train derailment site
The Railway authorities have also provided 13 buses for the relief of stranded passengers to carry them to various short distance places like Berhampur, Bhawanipatna, etc, the release added.
Till reports last came in, senior Railway officials including General Manager, East Coast Railway (ECoR) Umesh Singh and Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Waltair Division, Chandralekha Mukherjee are camping at the site to monitor the relief and rescue operations.
Besides, Railway minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu and Chairman, Railway Board AK Mital along with other high officials of the Railway Board have arrived at the mishap site.
"There is a strong indication of tampering with the track as the area is known to be a Naxal-prone zone and as Republic Day is approaching. Foul play cannot be ruled out," sources said.
"The Commissioner Railway Safety will conduct a thorough inquiry to ascertain the cause of the mishap," the sources said.
According to the sources, "A goods train had safely passed the same track. The patrol man had also checked the track. However, the driver of the train heard a big cracker-like sound just before the derailment and there appeared to be a big crack on the track which caused the derailment".
34 people were killed after 10 coaches of Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Express derailed in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh.
The incident took place around 11 PM yesterday when the train was on its way to Bhubaneswar from Jagdalpur.
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.
Six wagons of a goods train derailed in between Monkey Hill-Khandala section of the Western Ghats, leading to the CR cancelling 10 trains, diverting three and short-terminating five long-distance trains in various directions, hitting the people commuting between Mumbai-Pune and Mumbai-Nashik.
The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation and private operators deployed extra buses to clear the passenger rush on the two routes.
In another instance, two wheels of a departmental material wagon derailed in the Dahanu yard of Western Railway, but did not affect services on the main lines between Mumbai-Ahmedabad and Mumbai-Delhi sectors.
A WR spokesperson said it did not affect train traffic, barring one suburban local train getting delayed by a few minutes.
This is the third major derailment in Mumbai and adjoining districts in the past fortnight.
Earlier on August 25, four wagons of a local train had derailed outside Mahim station in Mumbai followed by 10 coaches of the Nagpur-Mumbai Duronto Express jumping off the tracks which were washed off due to heavy rains in the Western Ghats section on August 29.
Northern Railway spokesperson Neeraj Sharma told IANS that the engine and a power coach of train derailed while approaching New Delhi Railway Station from Ranchi in Jharkhand around 11.45 a.m.
Earlier in the day, seven coaches of the Shaktipunj Express derailed near Sonbhadra in Uttar Pradesh.
Also Read: 7 coaches of Shaktikunj Express derail in UP
According to Railways spokesperson Anil Saxena, there were no reports of any casualties or injuries so far in the incident which occurred at around 6.30 a.m., between the Asangaon and Vashind stations.
Saxena told IANS: "Engine and nine coaches of the Duronto Express derailed. Prima facie it appears landslide due to heavy rains caused the accident."
Heavy rains over the past three days caused a portion of the tracks to breach in the Kasara Ghats section.
Central Railways spokesperson Sunil Udasi appreciated the driver's prompt action. "The driver applied the emergency brakes on time," Udasi told IANS.
He said the stranded passengers were being shifted to their destination by buses and taxis.
Top Central Railway officials on Tuesday morning rushed to the spot to supervise relief and rescue operations.
The entire railway line has been affected, including the suburban services in the Mumbai-Thane sectors, hitting morning office peak hour commuters hard.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Mumbai-Pune-Nashik and the Konkan have been battered by torrential rains this week.
This was the third major incident of derailment in the past two weeks in the country and the second affecting the Mumbai suburban sector within a week.
On Friday, four coaches of a Mumbai local derailed near Mahim.
Jashoda was travelling in the train that derailed on January 21 in Vizianagaram district in Andhra Pradesh. Her 16-year-old daughter and 18-year-old son were among the 39 people killed in the accident.
She lost her husband to a disease in Vizianagaram on January 22 last year.
Joshada had gone to her parents' place at Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi district from Vizianagaram with her two children, on the occasion of Pongal.
The family had boarded a general compartment of the Junagarh-Bhubaneswar Express, which was attached to the Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Express, at Bhawanipatna railway station on Saturday.
The train reached Rayagada station at around 9.30 PM.
"We had our dinner, chatted a little and went to sleep after setting the alarm on the mobile phone to wake us up near Vizianagaram," Jashoda said.
"Around 20 minutes after the train left Rayagada, I heard a loud sound and woke up. I initially thought that someone had pelted stones on the train. However, I soon realised that the train has derailed," Jashoda said.
"There were screams all around. I somehow came out of the coach and waited for my children... but they did not come out," she said in a broken voice.
The two were killed instantaneously in the derailment.
Averring such accidents are taking place with "distressing frequency", party Politburo also rued it was "unfortunate" that none at the highest levels in the government, including Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, are held accountable for the alleged present dismal state of affairs.
The Politburo said that in the wake of last November's Kanpur accident which had killed at least 150 people, it was expected of the Ministry to take steps to upgrade safety features on railways.
"Such railway accidents are happening with distressing frequency. Despite various assurances, the railway ministry has totally failed to provide elementary safety for passengers traveling in the Indian Railways," CPI(M) Politburo said in a statement.
At least 36 passengers were killed and over 60 injured after nine coaches of the Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Express derailed in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh late last night.
"It is unfortunate that nobody at the highest levels of government including the railway minister are held accountable for the present dismal state of affairs," the statement added.
Condoling the death of passengers of the ill-fated train which derailed in Kuneru in the state, Naidu said the situation is being monitored closely and he has asked authorities to extend medical and other relief to the injured immediately on war footing.
"Deeply grieved to know about the tragic derailment of Hirakhand Express in Kuneru of Komarada mandal in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh. My prayers and condolences to the bereaved families.
"I am in talks with the concerned authorities to ensure speedy delivery of relief measures to the passengers stranded and wounded. Priority is on promptly shifting the passengers to nearby hospitals and a team of doctors has been rushed to the site. The situation is being monitored closely," he said.
At least 27 passengers were killed and around 100 injured after nine coaches of the Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Express derailed in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh with the railways suspecting foul play in the mishap.
"I spoke to the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Visakhapatnam and enquired about the situation and relief measures. Suggested to extend medical and other relief to the injured immediately on war footing, including making arrangements of food, water and other needs for the stranded passengers," he said.
Railways suspect that tampering of the track near Kuneru station led to the derailment of the train.
"DRM Visakhapatnam informed me that most of the injured belonged to Odisha. Immediately contacted Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik about the relief operations and suggested to send senior officers and shift the injured to nearby Rayagada hospital in Odisha. CM promised all the necessary steps would be taken," the Minister said.
Naidu also spoke to Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan (hails from Odisha), who assured him that he will speak to officials so that all necessary steps for relief can be taken at the earliest.
The Information and Broadcasting Minister also spoke to Visakhapatnam MP, K Hari Bab, and suggested to shift the seriously injured to KGH hospital in Visakhapatnam.
Official sources said NDRF personnel will help railway authorities and the local administration in the rescue and relief operations.
"NDRD team has already reached the spot to carry out rescue and relief operations," Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said.
Singh said the train accident in Andhra Pradesh is extremely distressing.
"Deeply pained over the loss of precious lives. My condolences to the bereaved families," he said
At least 32 people lost their lives in the derailment at Andhra Pradesh's Vizianagaram district last nigh