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Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express derails: 39 killed, Railways suspect sabotage

69 people were injured when engine and nine coaches of Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express jumped the tracks in Andhra Pradesh's Vizianagaram district on Saturday night.

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Rapid action force team performs rescue operations after Hirakhand Express had an accident near Kuneru station in Vizianagaram, Andra Pradesh
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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 with the railways suspecting sabotage behind the derailment, the third in as many months.

The engine and nine coaches of the Bhubaneswar-bound train went off the track near Kuneru station around 11 PM last night, Chief PRO of East Coast Railway JP Mishra said. 39 people have died while 69 were injured. Seven passengers were critical while 20 left for their destinations after treatment, officials said.

Rescue operation was almost over, the Divisional Railway Manager office said this evening, adding they don't expect to find any more bodies in the mangled coaches. Two AC coaches, four sleeper coaches, two general compartments and the guard-cum-passenger coach besides the locomotive of the train were affected and four of these coaches had overturned.

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. "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. "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.

The National Investigation Agency is looking into the claims of three arrested persons that the derailment of Indore-Patna express on November 20, 2016 in which at least 150 people were killed, was carried out at the behest of Pakistan's spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu rushed to the accident site along with Chairman Railway Board AK Mital and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the families of the victims, most of whom were from Odisha. 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.

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.

We have ordered an inquiry in the matter and a strict action will be taken against those found guilty. To play with the lives of the people is unforgivable to us and the guilty will not be spared," Prabhu said.

Raigada DM Guha P Tapas Kumar said rescue operations continued overnight with CRPF, medical teams and police at the spot. The injured were admitted to a hospital in Raigada and to Parvatipuram hospital in Vizianagram district in Andhra Pradesh. Majority of the injured passengers have suffered fractures.

The Director General, NDRF was monitoring the situation and a 24x7 NDRF Control Room was in touch with Railway Authorities and local civil administration to render any kinds of assistance, officials said. The mishap comes at a time when Railway Protection Force is on extra vigil in view of Republic Day as there is always apprehension of terror attacks around this time.

Besides, railways has strengthened the safety preparedness after two consecutive train derailments near Kanpur recently. While the November derailment claimed 151 lives of passengers, the latter had no casualty. Railways had earlier sought a CBI inquiry into the rail fracture suspecting sabotage.

Fish plates and elastic rail clips were found removed on the track near Kanpur on January 1 with railways suspecting it to be an act of sabotage and seeking a CBI inquiry into the incident. Train services were affected on Rayagada and Vijayanagaram route, with at least five trains cancelled and around eight others diverted following the derailment last night.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister to take stock of the situation. Naidu briefed the Home Minister on the steps taken for rescue and relief of the accident victims. Singh assured Naidu of all central help. Naidu reviewed the situation with ministers from north coastal Andhra and asked them to rush to the accident spot to supervise rescue and relief measures. "We are investigating the cause of the mishap," the Chief Minister said, expressing anguish over the tragedy. 

Railway authorities have so far identified only 18 of the dead. Most of the deceased were from Odisha and only two have so far been identified as residents of AP. A family of five from Bihar was among those killed in the mishap.

Chandrababu spoke to his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik and assured all assistance. "My office, along with the Chief Secretary's, is constantly monitoring relief efforts and status of the injured," he tweeted.

Thirteen unaffected coaches of the train, which had 22 bogies, including luggage-cum-guard van left for Rayagada and will proceed to Bhubaneswar via Sambhalpur-Angul route. If necessary, additional coaches would be added at Rayagada, Mishra said.

As many as 15 buses were also arranged to take the stranded passengers towards Palasa and Berhampur areas. Railways have tied up with Parvatipuram bus depot to arrange for transport. Five buses have already been arranged to take the passengers towards Palasa and Berhampur areas.

Over 12 ambulances were deployed to take the injured to hospital. At Parvatipuram government hospital, 22 injured people were taken for treatment from where seven with grievous injuries were referred to Visakhapatnam. 32 were taken to Rayagada district hospital, Chief PRO of East Coast Railway JP Mishra said.

Two units of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) were engaged for the rescue operation. In Delhi, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu said a team of doctors have been rushed to Andhra Pradesh and he is in touch with authorities to ensure speedy delivery of relief measures to injured and stranded passengers.

Condoling the death of passengers of the ill-fated train which derailed in Kuneru in the state, Naidu said the situation is being monitored closely and he has asked authorities to extend medical and other relief to the injured immediately on war footing. "I am in talks with the concerned authorities to ensure speedy delivery of relief measures to the passengers stranded and wounded. Priority is on promptly shifting the passengers to nearby hospitals and a team of doctors has been rushed to the site. The situation is being monitored closely," he said.

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