6 Killed, 18 Injured As 2 Trains Collide In Andhra, Human Error Suspected

Six people were killed and 18 injured on Sunday when two trains collided in Andhra Pradesh, said police, months after the horrific three-train collision in Odisha that killed over 280.

A special passenger train going from Visakhapatnam to Palasa had stopped on tracks between Alamanda and Kantakapalle near Kothsavatsala because of no signal when the Vizag-Raigad passenger train rammed it, derailing three coaches. 

Pictures from the site showed the derailed coaches and people crowding around. 

Railways sources said the tragedy was a result of human error, adding that signalling was not noticed by loco pilot.

War room in Delhi railway ministry is monitoring the situation, the Railways source added.

The East Coast Railway has released helpline numbers. 

Helpline Number regarding Train Accident between Alamanda and Kantakapalle in Vizianagaram-Kottavalasa Rly secn of Waltair Divn of ECoR in Howrah-Chennai Main Line.

Bhubaneswar –
0674-2301625, 2301525, 2303069

Waltair – 0891-
2885914@RailMinIndia

— East Coast Railway (@EastCoastRail) October 29, 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and reviewed the situation.

PM @narendramodi spoke to Railway Minister Shri @AshwiniVaishnaw and took stock of the situation in the wake of the unfortunate train derailment between Alamanda and Kantakapalle section.

Authorities are providing all possible assistance to those affected. The Prime Minister…

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 29, 2023

Andhra Chief Minister Jagan Reddy has condoled the loss of lives in the accident. 

“The CM expressed deep shock over the Kantakapalli train accident incident in Vizianagaram district. He ordered the officials to take quick relief measures and ensure that the injured get prompt medical services,” the Chief Minister’s office posted on social media. 

“The Chief Minister advised to send as many ambulances as possible from the nearby districts of Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli and make all kinds of arrangements to provide medical treatment in the nearby hospitals. The details regarding the incident should be reported to him from time to time,” it added. 

Union Railway Minister Aswini Vaishnaw telephoned the Chief Minister over the accident.

All injured shifted to hospitals.
Ex-gratia compensation disbursement started – ₹10 Lakh in case of death,
₹2.5 Lakh towards grievous and ₹50,000 for minor injuries.

— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) October 29, 2023

The Chief Minister informed him that rescue teams have been sent to the accident site and Education Minister B Satyanarayana, District Collector and the SP are supervising the relief and rescue operations.

He further told the Union Minister that all arrangements were made in the nearby hospitals to treat the injured.