At least 32 people were killed and 54 injured after Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Express derailed in Andhra Pradesh's Vizianagaram district, officials said today. 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 JP Mishra told PTI.
Rescue and relief operations were underway, an official said. A team of doctors was also sent to attend the injured at the accident site, he said. Thirteen of the train's 22 coaches were unaffected in the incident. Rail traffic on the coast line has been suspended.
Services were affected on Rayagada and Vijayanagaram route, with at least seven 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.
My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones due to the derailment of Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Express. The tragedy is saddening: PM
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 22, 2017
At Parvatipuram govt hospital, 22 injured people were taken for treatment from where 7 were referred to Visakhapatnam. 32 were taken to Rayagada district hospital, Mishra said.
Injured persons being treated at a hospital in Andhra Pradesh's Parvathipuram, 23 have lost their lives in Hirakhand express derailment pic.twitter.com/UDEqKX59gK
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 22, 2017
"Helpline nos at Rayagada:BSNL LAND LINE NO. 06856-223400, 06856-223500 BSNL MOBILES 09439741181, 09439741071, AIRTEL 07681878777. Help line nos at Vizianagaram , RLY NO. 83331, 83332, 83333, 83334 BSNL LAND LINE: 08922-221202, 08922-221206," the railway ministry tweeted.
