Andhra Pradesh train accident: Death toll rises to 14, CM to visit site

District Collector Nagalakshmi told the media that 14 passengers have been killed in the train accident, and the bodies of 11 have been identified.

She said 32 injured are undergoing treatment in the GGH in Vizianagaram; one injured was admitted to the KG hospital and another to the NRI hospital in Visakhapatnam.

The condition of four of the injured is said to be critical, the collector informed. The collector said 54 passengers were injured in the train accident.

The identified deceased were Kanchubaraki Ravi, Gidijala Lakshmi, K Appala Naidu, Challa Sathish, SMS Rao, Pilli Nagaraju, M Srinivas,Tenakala Sugunamma, Reddy Seetham Naidu, and Simhachalam. Efforts were being made to establish the identity of the other deceased, the collector said.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy will visit the accident site and the injured in the hospital.

Railway sources said 11 bogies of the 08532 Visakhapatnam-Palasa train were taken to the Alamanda station and nine bogies of the 08504 Visakhapatnam-Rayagada train were taken to Kantakapalli station.

Railway officials said the rescue and relief operations were in full swing with NDRF and SDRF personnel and all needed equipment was shifted to the accident site. Three bogies were badly crushed in the accident. The restoration of tracks was being carried out on war footing.

Importantly, the Visakhapatnam-Palasa (08532) passenger train was rammed at the rear end by the Visakhapatnam-Rayagada (08504) passenger train on the evening of Sunday. Some of the bogies fell on the goods train bogies which were stationed on the side track.

The accident was similar to the devastating Odisha train accident which took place four and a half years ago.