Andhra Pradesh Train Collision: What We Know So Far
On October 29, 2023, two passenger trains collided in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district, Death toll increased to 11 people and injuring 50. The collision occurred between a Visakhapatnam-Rayagada passenger train and a Visakhapatnam-Palasa passenger train.
According to initial reports, The Visakhapatnam-Palasa passenger train had stopped on the tracks between Alamanda and Kantakapalli near Kotha Vatsala due to a signal failure. The Visakhapatnam-Rayagada passenger train then rammed into the stationary train, derailing three coaches. The driver of the Visakhapatnam-Rayagada Passenger Special train is suspected to have missed a red signal, leading to the collision.
Immediate Actions: National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
Rescue teams from the Indian Railways and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rushed to the scene of the accident and began extricating passengers from the derailed coaches. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
A preliminary investigation has suggested that human error may have been the cause of the accident. It is believed that the loco pilot of the Visakhapatnam-Rayagada passenger train failed to notice the signal and rammed into the stationary train.
The government has also ordered a high-level inquiry into the accident.
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Government Announces Compensation for Victims (Andhra Pradesh Train Accident)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and announced financial assistance to the injured in the Andhra Pradesh train collision on October 29, 2023. He also spoke to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and took stock of the situation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Train Accident 2023
In a tweet, Modi said, “Anguished by the loss of lives due to the train accident in Andhra Pradesh. My condolences to the bereaved families. I pray that the injured recover soon. Have spoken to Railway Minister Shri @AshwiniVaishnaw and instructed officials to extend all possible assistance to those affected.”
Prime Minister Modi also announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from the PM’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of each dead and ₹50,000 for the injured.
A big Concern of people of Indian
The Andhra Pradesh train collision is the latest in a series of railway accidents in India. In May 2023, over 280 people were killed in a three train collision in Odisha. In April 2023, at least 10 people were killed in a train derailment in Maharashtra.
These accidents have raised concerns about the safety of India’s railway system. The Railway Ministry has announced a number of measures to improve safety, including the installation of automatic train protection systems and the modernization of signaling systems. However, more needs to be done to prevent such tragedies from happening again.
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Indian Railways Orders Safety Audit
The Indian Railways has ordered a safety audit of all its tracks and signalling systems in the wake of the Andhra Pradesh train collision. We will complete the audit within two weeks and take any necessary corrective measures immediately.
Impact: Train Diverted and been cancelled
According to the East Coast Railway, a total of 33 trains were cancelled, 22 trains were diverted, and 11 trains were partially cancelled after the Andhra train collision on October 29 2023.
The authorities implemented this to facilitate rescue and relief operations and to prevent congestion on the affected section of the railway line. They mainly canceled or diverted short-distance passenger trains.
The East Coast Railway has resumed normal operations on the affected section of the railway line, and all trains are now running on their regular schedule.
Conclusion
The Andhra Pradesh train collision is a reminder of the need to improve safety on Indian railways. The Railway Ministry and other stakeholders must work together to implement measures to prevent such tragedies from happening again.
FAQs: (Andhra Pradesh Train Collision)
Q: What was the cause of the Andhra Pradesh train collision?
A: Human error is suspected to be the cause of the accident. The loco pilot of the Visakhapatnam-Rayagada passenger train may have failed to notice the signal and rammed into the stationary train.
Q: How many people were killed and injured in the accident?
A: 11 people were killed and 50 were injured in the accident.
Q: What compensation has been announced for the victims of the accident?
A: The Andhra Pradesh government has announced compensation of Rs. 2 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 to the injured.
Q: What steps is the Indian Railways taking to prevent similar accidents from happening in the future?
A: The Indian Railways has ordered a safety audit of all its tracks and signalling systems. The audit will be completed within two weeks and any necessary corrective measures will be taken immediately.
Q: What can I do to help the victims of the accident?
A: You can donate to the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to help the victims of the accident. You can also donate blood or plasma to the nearest blood bank.