Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Oct 30: Vizianagaram joint collector Mayur Ashok reported on Monday that the number of fatalities from the train disaster on the Howrah-Chennai line in the Andhra Pradesh state has increased to 14. “The number of dead rose by one to 14, of which 13 died at the accident site itself and one while undergoing treatment,” he stated.
Seven of the deceased have already been identified, while the remaining individuals are currently undergoing the identification process.
54 persons suffered injuries in total, 39 of whom were admitted to the Vizianagaram hospital and the remaining patients were sent to other hospitals for medical treatment, according to the Vizianagaram Collector.
The accident occurred on Sunday in the Vizianagaram area when two trains collided and caused bogies to derail.
Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Union Minister for Railways, also provided updates on the rescue effort on X. He stated that nine rear coaches of the 08504 Visakhapatnam-Rayagada Passenger train had been brought back to the previous station, Kantakapalle, and that eleven coaches from the front of the 08532 Visakhapatnam-Palasa Passenger train have arrived at Alamanda.
11 coaches from front of 08532 Visakhapatnam – Palasa reached next Alamanda station. Train 08504 Visakhapatnam – Rayagada rear 9 coaches pulled back to the previous station, Kantakapalle.
Other than the derailed and affected coaches, all cleared from the site.— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) October 29, 2023
“Other than the derailed and affected coaches, all cleared from the site,” he posted on X.
“Rescue operations are underway. All passengers shifted. PM Narendra Modi reviewed the situation. Spoke to the CM of Andhra Pradesh (YS Jagan Mohan Reddy), [the] state government and railway teams are working in close coordination,” Vaishnaw wrote in another post on X.
Rescue operations are underway. All passengers shifted. PM @narendramodi Ji reviewed the situation. Spoke to the CM of Andhra Pradesh, state govt and railway teams are working in close coordination.
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) October 29, 2023
Ashwini Vaishnaw also announced to provide compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the families of the deceased, Rs 2.5 lakh to persons with grievous injuries and Rs 50,000 to individuals with minor injuries.
All injured shifted to hospitals.
Ex-gratia compensation disbursement started – ₹10 Lakh in case of death,
₹2.5 Lakh towards grievous and ₹50,000 for minor injuries.— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) October 29, 2023
In response to the incident, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy conveyed his dismay and directed officials to provide compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 2 lakh to each of the injured individuals from the state.
According to an official release, he also declared compensation of Rs 2 lakh for each of the deceased’s family and Rs 50,000 for each of the injured from other states.
