At least 39 people were killed and over 70 injured after Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Express derailed in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district, officials said today.
The incident took place around 11.30 pm when the train was going from Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh) to Odisha capital Bhubaneswar. Rescue and relief operations were underway, an official said. A team of doctors was also sent to attend the injured at the accident site, he said.
Thirteen of the train’s 22 coaches were unaffected in the incident. Rail traffic on the coast line has been suspended.
The train was travelling from Jagdalpur city to Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha state, when it came off the track nearly 160 kilometres (100 miles) from Visakhapatnam, the nearest city to the accident site.
Services were affected on Rayagada and Vijayanagaram route, with at least three trains cancelled and eight others diverted. 13 unaffected coaches left for Rayagada and they will proceed to Bhubaneswar via Sambhalpur-Angul route. If necessary, extra coaches will be added at Rayagada, Chief PRO of East Cost Railway JP Mishra said.
The reason behind the accident is yet to be ascertained and an inquiry has been ordered into the accident, Mr Mishra said, adding the Army has also been deployed to carry out rescue operations.
