2023 Andhra Pradesh train collision
Details
Date29 October 2023 (2023-10-29)
LocationVizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh
CountryIndia
LineHowrah–Chennai main line
OperatorIndian Railways
Incident typeSignal passed at danger
CauseHuman error
Statistics
Trains2
Deaths14
Injured30

On 29 October 2023, two passenger trains collided in southern India's Vizianagaram district in Andhra Pradesh state killing at least 14 people and leaving about 50 others injured.[1] Three carriages of a stationary passenger train were derailed after it was hit by another train.

Incident

On 29 October 2023, around 07:00 pm (13:30 GMT), the collision occurred on the Howrah–Chennai main line[2] after Visakhapatnam-Palasa Express service train stopped due to a break in an overhead cable when it was hit by an oncoming passenger train travelling from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, to Rayagada in Odisha, derailing its three carriages, in the Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh, India.[3][1][4] The collision occurred between Kantakapalli and Alamanda railway stations[5] resulting in severe damage to three coaches of the Palasa passenger, and the locomotive and two coaches of the Rayagada passenger.[6] At least 14 people were killed and 50 others were injured as a result.[7]

Response

The National Disaster Response Force team, police and railway personnel were engaged in the rescue operation. Heavy duty cranes were deployed at the site for the removal of the wrecked coaches.[8]

According to Biswajit Sahu, Chief Public Relations Officer of East Coast Railway, a "human error" caused by "overshooting of signal" by the second train led to the collision.[1] A preliminary probe by Indian Railways into the incident determined that the Rayagada passenger train passed two defective auto signals violating norms and held its driver and the assistant driver responsible for the collision. Both crew members were among those killed.[7]

Following the crash, 33 trains were cancelled and 22 others were diverted.[1] Later, the railway track was restored within a span of 20 hours, allowing the train services to resume.[8]

The Prime Minister's Office announced an ex gratia of INR 0.2 million for the next of kin of each of the deceased and INR 50,000 to each of the injured from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Andhra Pradesh: India train crash kills 13 and injures dozens". BBC News. 30 October 2023. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  2. ↑ "At least 11 dead, over 60 injured as two trains collide near Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh". The Hindu. 29 October 2023. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  3. ↑ Prasad, Ritu (29 October 2023). "At least 10 reported dead after trains collide in India". CNN. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  4. ↑ Dash, Jatindra; Sadam, Rishika (29 October 2023). "At least 10 dead in Indian train collision". Reuters. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  5. 1 2 "13 dead as two passenger trains collide in Andhra, officials say driver missed red signal". The Indian Express. 29 October 2023. Archived from the original on 29 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  6. ↑ "Andhra train accident updates | Initial probe points finger at Rayagada passenger train crew". The Hindu. 30 October 2023. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Train Accident Highlights: 14 Killed, 50 Injured As 2 Trains Collide In Andhra". NDTV. 30 October 2023. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  8. 1 2 "Andhra Pradesh train accident | 'Overshot' main cause of fatal accident, suspects Railway officials". The Hindu. 30 October 2023. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.