At least 36 passengers were killed and over 50 injured when an Hirakhand Express train, heading from Jagdalpur to Bhubaneshwar, derailed near Andhra Pradesh, late on Saturday night.
The incident occurred at around 11.20pm (India Time), while the train was passing by Kuneru railway station.
Apart from the engine, seven coaches – comprising the luggage van, two general compartments, two sleeper coaches, an AC three-tier coach and an AC two-tier coach – were derailed. While four coaches fell on an adjacent goods train, two sleeper coaches and a general coach were completely crushed.
RESCUE OPERATION “ALMOST OVER”
“The rescue operation is almost over,” said JP Mishra, Chief Public Relations Officer for the East Coast Railway.
“Our first priority is to take care of the injured passengers, and provide them with proper treatment by shifting them to hospitals.
“We are also searching all the coaches to make sure nobody is still trapped.”
‘FOUL PLAY’ NOT RULED OUT
Video footage from the scene showed local residents and members of the disaster management team trying to rescue trapped passengers, using their mobile phones for light.
“People in the train’s three sleeper-class compartments were the worst affected,” said LKV Ranga Rao Police Superintendent.
The injured were rushed to the Parvathipuram and Raigarh government hospitals.
Mishra said the reason for the derailment would be investigated, not ruling out the possibility of foul play. Maoist rebels are known to operate in the area.
“THE TRAGEDY IS SADDENING”
Railway minister Suresh Prabhu expressed grief over the incident, and announced monetary compensation for the killed and critically injured relatives, in addition to compensation to those with non-fatal injuries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his condolences on Twitter. “My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones in the derailment of the Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Express. The tragedy is saddening,” he tweeted.
India notoriously has a poor record concerning train safety and deadly derailments.
Source: Hindustan Times
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
