Andhra Pradesh train collision: The death toll in the Andhra Pradesh train accident has risen to 14 as four more people have succumbed to their injuries. More than 50 people were also injured after a collision between two trains caused the derailment of bogies in Vizianagaram district on Sunday evening.

The incident took place when the Visakhapatnam-Rayagada Passenger Special train hit the Visakhapatnam-Palasa passenger from the rear after which several coaches got derailed. The collision took place between Kantakapalle and Alamanda railway stations in Andhra Pradesh.

Also Read: Six dead, 25 injured in train accident in Andhra Pradesh: Police

Rescue operations at the site are currently underway. Efforts are also underway to clear the tracks and resume train services.

Here are the latest developments in the Andhra train tragedy:

  • Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw has shared updates of the rescue operation. He mentioned that 11 coaches from the front of the 08532 Visakhapatnam-Palasa Passenger train have reached Vizianagaram’s next station, Alamanda, while nine rear coaches of the 08504 Visakhapatnam-Rayagada Passenger train have been pulled back to the previous station, Kantakapalle. Except for the derailed and affected coaches, the site was cleared by midnight, said Vaishnaw.
  • According to preliminary information, the reason for the collision is suspected to be human error owing to the overshooting of the signal by the Visakhapatnam-Rayagada train, India Today reported.
  • Several trains across India have been diverted, cancelled or short terminated in the wake of the train tragedy, the Ministry of Railways informed on X (formerly Twitter). The Railways have shared seven bulletins on X, in which details of all train services that have been affected due to the accident are given.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office said that he has taken stock of the situation and spoke to Vaishnaw. “Authorities are providing all possible assistance to those affected. The Prime Minister extends condolences to the bereaved families and prays that the injured recover soon,” PMO stated.
  • Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has issued orders to take immediate relief measures and send as many ambulances as possible from Visakhapatnam and the nearest districts of Vizianagaram to the accident site. He has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the family of those dead in the train accident. This financial assistance is for people hailing from Andhra Pradesh. Meanwhile, families of those who died but belonged to other states will be given Rs 2 lakh each. Andhra Pradesh passengers who are severely wounded will receive a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each, and those from other states will get Rs 50,000 each.
  • PM Modi has also announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the family of each dead, while the injured persons will be given Rs 50,000 as financial aid.

Also Read: Andhra Pradesh train collision disrupts train services! Check full list of cancelled, diverted and rescheduled trains

  • The Ministry of Railways has issued helpline numbers, and accident relief trains and other rescue equipment have been dispatched to assist with the rescue operations.
  • A special passenger train between Visakhapatnam and Palasa had stopped on the main line between Alamanda and Kantakapalle due to no signal when a Vizag-Rayagada passenger train hit it from behind.
  • The last two coaches of the Visakhapatnam-Palasa train and the locomotive of the Visakhapatnam-Rayagada passenger train got derailed, said Biswajit Sahu, CPRO, East Coast Railway.