Death toll in Andhra train derailment rises to 39, Centre orders probe

Rayagada (Odisha): The death toll in the derailment of Jadgadalpur-Hirakhand Express at Koneru under Vizianagaram district in Andhra Pradesh rose to 39 on Sunday morning after retrieval of five more bodies from the mangled coaches.

The East Coal Railway (ECoR), however, confirmed only 27 deaths.

As many as five units of National Disaster Rapid Action Force (NDRF) and two units of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) have been pressed into rescue and relief operation.

Nine coaches of Hirakhand Express were seriously damaged after the train derailed and hit a goods train that was standing on the adjacent track.

The accident took place around 11 pm on Saturday at Koneru, nearly 27 km from Odisha’s Rayagada railway station.

At 3.25 am on Sunday, 12 unaffected coaches of the train carrying the unharmed passengers left for Bhubaneswar by Sambalpur-Angul road.

According to East Coast Railway (ECoR) authorities, the Railways have tied up with Parvatipur bus depot manager for five buses. Another five buses each have been kept ready at Palkonda and Rayagada bus depots.

As many as 60 injured passengers have been admitted in hospitals in Visakhapatnam and Parvatiparam in Andhra Pradesh and Rayagada in Odisha.

Railway minister Suresh Prabhu has ordered a probe into the accident.

Lingaraj Parida, nodal officer of ODRAF teams said rescue persons were working hard to retrieve the bodies and injured passengers from the affected coaches.

Railway Minister Prabhu announced Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for the next of the kin of the each deceased and Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 each respectively for seriously and partially injured persons.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu also announced a compensation to the families of the deceased.

"Families of victims from AP who lost lives in the railway accident will get Rs. 5 lakh compensation under Chandranna Bima. This compensation is in addition to the Rs.2 lakh announced by Union Railways Minister," Naidu said.

The derailed coaches include one Second AC, one Third AC, two sleeper coaches, were derailed.

Reports also said that the engine and luggage van of train also got derailed.

General Manager of East Coast Railway Umesh Singh has left for the accident site to take stock of the situation.

At Rayagada, helpline numbers were issued. The helpline numbers are 06856-223400, 06856-223400, 06856-223500, 09439741181 and 9439741071.

Similarly, Visakhapatnam railway station authorities issued helpline numbers. The numbers are 0891-2746344, 08991-2746344 and 0891-2746300. Khurda Division also released 0674-2490670 as its helpline number.

According to East Coast Railway authorities at least four relief vans have been sent to the spot.