Visakha-Rayagada train collides with Visakha-Palasa Passenger
Dr.Badal Tah,Odishabarta
15 succumb to injuries and more than 100 injured; yet another human blunder
Rayagada, October 30: Similar to the fatal train accident, which occurred near Bahanaga, Balasore, another train accident has occurred after the collision of Rayagada bound passenger train with Palasa bound Passenger train last Sunday around 7 PM. The incident happened near Kanatakapalli in Vizianagaram- Visakhapatnam line.
The Vishakhapatnam-Palasa train was waiting on the track between Alamanda and Kantakpalli railway stations of the Kothavalasa block when the collision took place. Railway officials have said that the incident appears to have caused due to a human error as the Vishakhapatnam train did not stop even when the signal was red.
According to railway sources, there was an over shoot of trains of 08532 Visakhapatnam-Palasa passenger with 08504 Visakhapatnam-Ragada where 3 coaches were involved and about 11 persons died and more than 50 were injured. But unofficial sources mentioned that more than 15 persons succumbed to their injuries and over 100 are seriously injured. DRM Shri Saurabh Prasad reached site and rescue operations are in full swing. Local administration and NDRF extended assistance and ambulances. Accident relief trains reached site. All injured were shifted to hospitals. Ex-gratia compensation disbursement started – Rs10 Lakhs in case of death, Rs.2 Lakhs towards grievous and Rs.50,000 for minor injuries. 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. The area is cordoned by the rescue team for smooth operation. It is expected to clear the track by 4 PM on Monday to facilitate normal running of trains.
Total of 33 trains are cancelled, 22 diverted and 11 partially cancelled. Several bulletins are released by the PRO of Waltair-DRM office, which also mention about rescheduling of trains. On the other hand, though the trains are cancelled, IRCTC website does not reflect their cancellation. The scenario is hazy and no one is definite about the actual status of running and cancelled trains.
The site of accident is around 150 kms from Rayagada district headquarters. As the train from Visakhapatnam was carrying hundreds of passengers to Rayagada, Swadha Dev Singh, Rayagada Collector quickly acted upon by immediately ordering to send two buses from Vizianagaram bus depot to carry the stranded passengers from the site of the accident.A team from NDRF was sent to assist the rescue team at the spot. The coordinator of Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana(BSKY), a team of doctors and a senior revenue officials had been dispatched to the site with loads of food, water and medicines. Beds in District Headquarters Hospital(DHH), Rayagada are kept reserved for the injured. So also the blood bank is alert with sufficient blood in store for treating the patients. Ambulances are also kept ready for referrals to higher and special hospitals. District administration is extremely sensitive to the issue and empathises with the families of the injured and deceased, Said Singh. Till writing of this report, no death from Rayagada & any other part of Odisha is reported.
Help desk numbers in several prime railway stations have been announced: Rayagada Railway Station (RGDA): 9439741071, 7326812986, KUR(Khurda Road Junction): 0674-2490555, BBS (Bhubaneswar): 0674-2534027, BAM (Brahmapur): 9090522120, 8917387241, 9040277587.
