New Delhi:

The train collision in Andhra Pradesh was caused after one of the drivers overshot a signal, a senior railway official said. At least 13 people and 40 were injured when the Palasa passenger train hit the Rayagada passenger train from behind at Kantakapalli, about 40 Km from Visakhapatnam.

Speaking to NDTV, an East Coast Railway official said that the accident was caused by a human error as the driver of the Rayagada train missed a red signal.

“The driver of the Visakhapatnam-Rayagada passenger train was responsible for the accident, as he overshot a signal and hit the rear end of the Palasa train. The driver of the Rayagada train was also killed in the accident,” says Biswajit Sahu, Chief Public Relations Officer at East Coast Railways.

“Investigation is still on and the picture will be clearer only after that,” he added.

Relief and rescue operations on the track are likely to be completed by today evening.

So far, 18 trains have been cancelled and 22 others diverted due to the collision.

Expressing shock over the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Rs 2 lakh assistance for the families of those who died in the accident and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

“Authorities are providing all possible assistance to those affected. The Prime Minister extends condolences to the bereaved families and prays that the injured recover soon,” the Prime Minister’s office said on X (formerly Twitter).

India, which has the world’s largest rail network, has seen several disasters over the years. In June, a horrific accident involving three trains killed over 280 passengers in Odisha. The Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, and a goods train were involved in the accident on June 2 near the Bahanaga Bazar station.

The mangled remains of the coaches, which were involved in the collision at Kantakapalli in Vizianagaram district on Sunday evening.
| Photo Credit: Special arrangement

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Amaravati:

Thirteen people were killed and 40 injured on Sunday when two trains collided in Andhra Pradesh, said police, months after the horrific three-train collision in Odisha that killed over 280.

“Till now 40 people have been injured. 32 have been shifted to Vizianagaram Government Hospital. 1 in Vishaka NRI Hospital, 2 in Medicover Hospital. 4 are in critical condition. All the injured are from Andhra Pradesh”, Vizianagaram District administration said.

A special passenger train going from Visakhapatnam to Palasa had stopped on tracks between Alamanda and Kantakapalle near Kothsavatsala because of no signal when the Vizag-Raigad passenger train rammed it, derailing three coaches. 

Railways sources said the tragedy was a result of human error, adding that signalling was not noticed by loco pilot.

Here are the live updates on Andhra Pradesh Train Accident:

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#WATCH | Andhra Pradesh train accident: Visuals of the rescue operations.

“SDRF, NDF and our teams, all three are working…Right now 6-8 casualties are there…More than 30 people are injured…The rescue efforts are on…: Waltair Division Railway manager Saurabh Prasad pic.twitter.com/Ke7mqf9Wlf

– ANI (@ANI) October 29, 2023

#WATCH | Andhra Pradesh train accident: Rescue operations continue in Vizianagaram district.

“As per the data, 9 casualties are there and 29 people have been injured…,” says Biswajit Sahu, CPRO, East Coast Railway. pic.twitter.com/N3adqmASxx

– ANI (@ANI) October 29, 2023

• Nine people were killed and 40 injured on Sunday when two trains collided in Andhra Pradesh, said police, months after the horrific three-train collision in Odisha that killed over 280.
• The district administration has updated the injury figures to 40.
• A special passenger train going from Visakhapatnam to Palasa had stopped on tracks between Alamanda and Kantakapalle near Kothsavatsala because of no signal when the Vizag-Raigad passenger train rammed it, derailing three coaches. 
• Pictures from the site showed the derailed coaches and people crowding around. 
• Railways sources said the tragedy was a result of human error, adding that signalling was not noticed by loco pilot.
• War room in Delhi railway ministry is monitoring the situation, the Railways source added.
• The East Coast Railway has released helpline numbers.