Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu visited the accident site to monitor the situation at ground zero.
The death toll in the horrific Hirakhand Express climbed to 39 on Sunday. Meanwhile, Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu along with Chairman Railway Board AK Mital to monitor the situation at ground zero. Earlier, Railway Board Member (Rolling Stock) Ravinder Gupta, Member (Engineering) Aditya Kumar Mittal rushed to the site.
The incident took place at around 11 PM on Saturday near Kuneru station when most of the passengers were sleeping. The station is 25 kilometre away from Rayagada station in Odisha.
The Ministry of Railways has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for next of kin of those killed in the train accident. It has also announced Rs. 50,000 those seriously injured and Rs. 25,000 for minor injuries.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has also announced an additional ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh compensation under Chandranna Bima. The Indian Railway has issued the following helpline numbers - Rayagada: 06856-223400, 06856-223500, 09439741181, 09439741071 and 07681878777. The helpline numbers at Vizianagaram are 08922-221202 and 08922-221206.
The railways has also pressed into service trains and buses to help the stranded passengers. Passengers were facilitated towards their respective destinations in train from Kuneru to Bhubaneswar through Rayagada - Sambalpur. 13 buses were also pressed into service for short distance destinations like Berhampur, Bhawanipatna, according to railways. Railways also arranged for snacks, water, tea for the stranded passengers.
The accident has affected the railway traffic on Rayagada Vizianagaram section and Railways had to divert, short-terminate and cancel certain trains passing through this route.
Over 60 people were injured as the engine and nine coaches of Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express jumped the tracks in Andhra Pradesh's Vizianagaram district late last night with the railways suspecting sabotage behind the derailment, the third in as many months. "Injured were admitted to hospitals. Some with simple injuries were discharged after the first aid. Medical relief train was rushed to the site. NDRF unit has also rushed to the site," said the official.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express derails PTI")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}