AMN
The death toll in the Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express train accident near Kuneru station in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh reaches 39, while the condition of seven injured is stated to be critical. According to Railways doctors who are attending the victims said that more than 115 were injured in the incident.
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu met the injured passengers who are being treated in Rayagada government hospital in the evening and assured them of all help. The Railway Minister also said that the incident would be probed into to find out if there is any foul play involved in it. The Railway Minister has already announced compensation of 2 lakh rupees each for the kin of those killed and 50,000 rupees for injured.
In addition to this, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has announced 5 lakh rupees compensation for the families of the deceased from Andhra Pradesh. The Chief Minister also instructed the officials to provide the best of medical aid to the injured passengers. He briefed Union Home Minister Rajnath Sing over telephone the steps being taken for rescue and relief of the accident victims. He directed the Chief Secretary S P Tucker to ensure effective relief and rehabilitation efforts for rail accident victims. He asked the Chief Secretary to be in constant touch with Chief Secretary of Odisha to ensure coordination in efforts.
The State DGP has been asked to hand over all bodies immediately in close coordination with Odisha police. Mr. Naidu directed district collectors of Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram to coordinate all the efforts, especially medical treatment for the injured passengers. A team of the National Disaster Response Force is already engaged in the rescue operations and are in touch with Railway authorities and local civil administration to render any kind of assistance. Over 10 ambulances have been deployed to take the injured to hospital.
The State government has also asked the Divisional Railway Manager, Visakhapatnam to restore rail traffic at the earliest, while the RTC is providing special buses to take stranded passengers to their destinations safely. The Railways have also tied up with local bus service providers to arrange for transport. About 9 trains were cancelled and 10 others were diverted due to the derailment of the train. Meanwhile the railway officials have identified the bodies of at least 18 victims, including that of six women. Additional Divisional Railway Manager Ajay Arora said efforts are on to identify the remaining bodies.
The Civil Aviation Ministry today said that it would begin probe into the tragic Hirakhand Express mishap from tomorrow. The Railway Safety Commissioner under the Civil Aviation Ministry would probe the derailment, the release said adding that the joint probe would be taken up with the South-Central Commissioner of Hyderabad Circle from Rayagada in Odisha from tomorrow. The release said that anyone can depose before the Ministry as witness to the tragic mishap.