Kuneru train derailment
| Kuneru train derailment | |
|---|---|
_Route_map.jpg) | |
| Details | |
| Date | 21 January 2017 11:00 p.m. local time (16:30 UTC, 21 January) (Indian Standard Time UTC+05:30) |
| Location | Kuneru, Andhra Pradesh |
| Country | India |
| Line | Part of Jharsuguda–Vizianagaram line |
| Operator | East Coast Railway zone |
| Incident type | Derailment |
| Cause | Under investigation |
| Statistics | |
| Trains | 1 |
| Deaths | 39+ |
| Injured | ≈200 |
On 21 January 2017, the Hirakhand express 18448, a scheduled passenger train from Jagdalpur to Bhubaneswar, derailed near Kuneru, Vizianagaram, India, resulting in at least 39 deaths and more than 200 injuries.[1][2]
Accident
The diesel engine of the train and nine cars derailed at Saturday around 11 pm local time.[3] Three cars derailed with enough force to leave the roadbed entirely,[4] and some collided with a freight train an a parallel track.[5] According to a district fire department official, some of the casualties were as a result of a stampede within the train as passengers tried to flee after the crash.[6]
Aftermath
The first rescue workers reached the location of the crash about 40 minutes after the train derailed.[6] Rescue and recovery work continued until the next day, while repairs to the track were completed by the morning of 23 January.[4] Indian Railways said that it would pay ₹200,000 to the families of those killed in the crash, while injured passengers received ₹50,000.[6]
Investigation
According to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, investigation of the accident, in conjunction with India's Railway Safety Commissioner, started on 22 January.[3] Director General of Police K.B. Singh said that there was no evidence of sabotage of the track involved, though unnamed railroad officials had initially hypothesized such.[3]
See also
References
- ^ "23 killed as Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Express derails". The Economic Times of India. 21 January 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
- ^ "Hirakhand Express derails in AP; 25 fear killed, 200 others injured". The Deccan Chronicle. 21 January 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
- ^ a b c "Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express derails LIVE updates: 39 dead, Railways suspect sabotage; Suresh Prabhu meets victims' family". The Indian Express. New Delhi. 2017-01-22. Retrieved 2017-01-22.
- ^ a b "At least 39 killed as Indian train derails". Reuters. 22 January 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
- ^ "Dozens killed after train derails in southern India". Al Jazeera. 22 January 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
- ^ a b c "Train Derails in Southern India, Killing Dozens". The New York Times. 22 January 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2017.