39 killed in Hirakhand Express derailment in Andhra Pradesh; Suresh Prabhu orders probe

Kuneru: At least 39 people were killed and 69 injured when engine and nine coaches of Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express jumped the tracks in Andhra Pradesh's Vizianagaram district.

Seven passengers were critical while 20 left for their destinations after treatment, officials said.

The incident occurred on Saturday at 11.30 pm near Kuneru station, 24 km from Rayagada in Odisha. The train was on its way to the Odisha capital Bhubaneswar from Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh.

According to East Coast Railway spokesperson JP Mishra, nine coaches - a luggage van, two general and four sleeper coaches, a second-cum-third AC coach, a third AC coach - and the engine derailed.

"Four accident relief vans have been sent to the accident site. The reason behind the incident is yet to be ascertained," Mishra said, as per IANS.

Railway sources said there are indications of foul play as a goods train passed the same track just two hours before the mishap, which occurred in the Naxal-prone zone just ahead of the Republic Day.

However, Odisha Police ruled out involvement of Maoists in the mishap.

According to Railways, prima facie there was rail fracture which caused the derailment. But it has to be ascertained through whether the fracture was due to sabotage or because of negligence and lack of maintenance.

Express mishap: Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu

"The real cause will be known only after inquiry by the Commissioner Railway Safety," Railway spokesperson Anil Saxena said.

"There are indications of foul play as goods train passed the same track just two hours before the mishap. The inspection by the patrol team also found the track okay yesterday," a source said, as per PTI.

"The driver applied emergency brake after feeling a big jerk and heard a loud sound. The area is Naxal prone and the incident happened just ahead of Republic Day," he said.

Home Ministry sources said it may ask the NIA to see if the derailment was a subversive act.

"The NIA can expand the scope of their ongoing probe," they said.

Railway Protection Force Director General SK Bhagat said, "Nothing can be ruled out right now. But the actual cause will be ascertained only after the inquiry."

However, Odisha DGP KB Singh said "there is no indication of Maoist hand behind the derailment". He was speaking after attending a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here.

Meanwhile, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu rushed to the accident site along with Chairman Railway Board AK Mital and announced an ex-gratia of Rs five lakh for the families of the victims, most of whom were from Odisha.

He said that said "stringent action" would be taken against those found responsible for the derailment.

"The cause of the accident will be probed. It is an unfortunate incident. Stringent action will be taken against those found responsible," Prabhu told reporters after meeting the injured passengers from the train at Rayagada district headquarters hospital.

"Those responsible for the derailment will not be spared. Stringent action will be taken against those who played with the lives of so many people," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders expressed grief over the incident. The PM said the Railway Ministry was monitoring the situation very closely and working to ensure quick rescue and relief operations.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced additional Rs 5 lakh under an insurance scheme to the kin of victims from the state. Chief Ministers of various states also condoled the loss of lives in the incident. 

The Odisha government also announced that families of the victims hailing from Odisha would get the benefit of ex-gratia of Rs five lakh. 

(With Agency inputs)