On a fateful Sunday, a passenger train heading from Visakhapatnam to Rayagada collided with another train, the Palasa Express, which was en route to Visakhapatnam. This unfortunate incident took place in Andhra Pradesh's Vizianagaram district, resulting in the derailment of train carriages and significant casualties.
The catastrophic collision occurred around 7 p.m. when the 08504 Visakhapatnam-Rayagada Passenger train and the 08532 Visakhapatnam-Palasa Passenger train collided head-on. As a consequence of this collision, two of the rear coaches of the Visakhapatnam-Palasa Passenger train and the locomotive of the Visakhapatnam-Rayagada Passenger train were derailed.
The Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of the East Central Railway explained, "The carriages derailed after a train carrying passengers from Vizianagaram to Raigad collided with a passenger train traveling in the opposite direction from Visakhapatnam to Palasa."
Initial assessments indicate that the collision may have been caused by human error, possibly due to the Visakhapatnam-Rayagada train overshooting a signal.
In response to this tragic incident, the Prime Minister's office conveyed through social media that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a conversation with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to gain an understanding of the situation following the unfortunate derailment that occurred between the Alamanda and Kantakapalle section.
The message posted on social media reads, "Authorities are providing all possible assistance to those affected. The Prime Minister extends condolences to the bereaved families and prays for the swift recovery of the injured."
Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy reacted promptly to the incident, issuing directives to initiate immediate relief measures. He also ordered a dispatch of ambulances from Visakhapatnam and the nearby districts of Vizianagaram to the accident site. The Chief Minister emphasized the importance of ensuring that the injured receive adequate medical care and instructed railway authorities to collaborate with other government departments, including health, police, and revenue, to ensure the swift delivery of relief and medical services.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw provided an update, stating that rescue operations were in progress and that all individuals had been evacuated. He mentioned that Prime Minister Modi had reviewed the situation and that he had spoken to the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, indicating that the situation was currently under control.
Efforts to manage the aftermath of the accident have been reinforced with the dispatch of Accident Relief Trains and additional rescue equipment. The Ministry of Railways has also made available helpline numbers to facilitate the coordination of rescue operations.
This incident is a poignant reminder of a prior catastrophe when the Coromandel Express collided with a stationary freight train at the Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore on June 2, resulting in a significant loss of life. In that tragic event, at least 288 people lost their lives, and over 1,100 individuals sustained injuries.
