39 die in latest disaster on India’s railway network
Print Edition
AT least 39 people were killed and 50 injured on Saturday night when nine coaches of a passenger train derailed in eastern India, police said yesterday.
The Hirakhand express from Jagdalpur to Bhubaneswar derailed around 11:20pm near the Kuneri station, in the state of Andhra Pradesh, about 30 kilometers from the town of Rayagada.
“The rescue operation is almost over,” said JP Mishra, chief public relations officer at East Coast Railway, which has jurisdiction over the area where the derailment occurred.
“Our first priority is to take care of the injured passengers and provide proper treatment by shifting them to hospitals. We are also searching all the coaches to ensure that nobody remains stranded in them.”
The reason for the derailment is not yet known, Mishra said, but the possibility of foul play was not being ruled out and investigations are under way.
The area in which the incident occurred is one where rebels typically operate.
Video footage from the scene showed members of the disaster management team and local residents trying to rescue passengers using phones to provide light.
“We will take strict action against whoever is behind this act,” said Suresh Prabhu, Indian railways minister. “We won’t spare anyone responsible for this accident.”
Local police said most of the casualties and deaths were from three sleeper-class compartments.
Track repair operations are scheduled to go on through the night, Mishra said, adding that he expects services to be back to normal by early this morning.
India’s state railways have an appalling safety record after decades of under-investment and a priority on keeping fares low for the 23 million people who use the network every day.
Late last year, 150 people died when a train derailed in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.
India recorded 27,581 railway deaths in 2014, the most recent year for which figures are available, with most victims falling from, or being struck by, moving trains.
“Anguished to learn about the train accident near Vizianagaram,” Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, said on Twitter, offering his condolences to the families of the victims. “We are investigating the reason for accident.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also tweeted that the tragedy was “saddening” and said that the railways ministry was working to ensure quick relief and rescue operations.
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