Death toll in Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express derailment in Andhra Pradesh's Vizianagaram district has risen to 35.<br/><br/>Quoting Railway sources, AIR correspondent reports that around 115 people were also injured in the accident near Kuneru station last night when the train was going to Bhubaneswar from Jagdalpur.<br/><br/>Nine out of 22 coaches of the train travelling with more than 450 passengers rolled off track a little after 11 PM near Kuneru station when most of the passengers were sleeping. The station is 25 kilometre away from Rayagada station in Odisha.<br/><br/>The train was running at high speed while crossing Kuneru station where it had no stoppage. The death toll is likely to go up as several passengers have suffered serious head injuries. Over 100 people are feared trapped and are bring rescued from the bogies by cut opening them.<br/><br/>A team of doctors has reached the accident site. Over 10 ambulances have been deployed to take the injured to Berhampur, Vijayanagaram, Parvatipuram and Rayagada hospitals.<br/><br/>Railways have tied up with Parvatipuram bus depot to arrange for transport of stranded passengers to their respective destinations. Train services were affected on Rayagada and Vijayanagaram route, with at least 4 trains cancelled and 8 others diverted.<br/><br/>The Railway ministry has announced an ex-gratia of 2 lakh rupees each for next of kin of those killed in the train accident. It has also announced 50,000 rupees for those seriously injured and 25 thousand rupees for minor injuries.<br/><br/>President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have expressed heartfelt condolence on the tragic loss of lives due to the derailment. They prayed for a speedy recovery of all those injured due to the accident. The Prime Minister said, the Railway Ministry is monitoring the situation very closely and is working to ensure quick rescue and relief operations. Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu has also expressed grief over the train accident.<br/><br/>Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said due care and diligence is being taken into consideration by NDRF teams as the victims might be trapped under the mangled bogies. He added the Director General, NDRF is monitoring the situation round the clock and an NDRF Control Room is in touch with Railway Authorities and local civil administration to render any kind of assistance. <br/><br/>Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu along with the Chairman Railway Board are rushing to train accident site. Mr Prabhu has directed senior officials to reach site and ensure prompt rescue and relief operations. The Railway Minister said, he has ordered an inquiry and strictest possible action will be taken against those who could be responsible.<br/><br/>Railways authorities suspect that tampering of the track near Kuneru station led to the derailment as the area is known to be a Naxal-prone zone. The Commissioner Railway Safety will conduct a thorough inquiry to ascertain the cause of the mishap.<br/><br/>Railway has issued helpline numbers. These are Rayagada 06856-223400, 06856-223500, 09439741181, 09439741071 and 07681878777. Help line nos at Vizianagaram are 08922-221202 and 08922-221206.

Death toll in Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express derailment in Andhra Pradesh's Vizianagaram district has risen to 35.<br/><br/>Quoting Railway sources, AIR correspondent reports that around 115 people were also injured in the accident near Kuneru station last night when the train was going to Bhubaneswar from Jagdalpur.<br/><br/>Nine out of 22 coaches of the train travelling with more than 450 passengers rolled off track a little after 11 PM near Kuneru station when most of the passengers were sleeping. The station is 25 kilometre away from Rayagada station in Odisha.<br/><br/>The train was running at high speed while crossing Kuneru station where it had no stoppage. The death toll is likely to go up as several passengers have suffered serious head injuries. Over 100 people are feared trapped and are bring rescued from the bogies by cut opening them.<br/><br/>A team of doctors has reached the accident site. Over 10 ambulances have been deployed to take the injured to Berhampur, Vijayanagaram, Parvatipuram and Rayagada hospitals.<br/><br/>Railways have tied up with Parvatipuram bus depot to arrange for transport of stranded passengers to their respective destinations. Train services were affected on Rayagada and Vijayanagaram route, with at least 4 trains cancelled and 8 others diverted.<br/><br/>The Railway ministry has announced an ex-gratia of 2 lakh rupees each for next of kin of those killed in the train accident. It has also announced 50,000 rupees for those seriously injured and 25 thousand rupees for minor injuries.<br/><br/>President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have expressed heartfelt condolence on the tragic loss of lives due to the derailment. They prayed for a speedy recovery of all those injured due to the accident. The Prime Minister said, the Railway Ministry is monitoring the situation very closely and is working to ensure quick rescue and relief operations. Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu has also expressed grief over the train accident.<br/><br/>Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said due care and diligence is being taken into consideration by NDRF teams as the victims might be trapped under the mangled bogies. He added the Director General, NDRF is monitoring the situation round the clock and an NDRF Control Room is in touch with Railway Authorities and local civil administration to render any kind of assistance. <br/><br/>Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu along with the Chairman Railway Board are rushing to train accident site. Mr Prabhu has directed senior officials to reach site and ensure prompt rescue and relief operations. The Railway Minister said, he has ordered an inquiry and strictest possible action will be taken against those who could be responsible.<br/><br/>Railways authorities suspect that tampering of the track near Kuneru station led to the derailment as the area is known to be a Naxal-prone zone. The Commissioner Railway Safety will conduct a thorough inquiry to ascertain the cause of the mishap.<br/><br/>Railway has issued helpline numbers. These are Rayagada 06856-223400, 06856-223500, 09439741181, 09439741071 and 07681878777. Help line nos at Vizianagaram are 08922-221202 and 08922-221206.

Death toll in Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express derailment in Andhra Pradesh's Vizianagaram district has risen to 35.<br/><br/>Quoting Railway sources, AIR correspondent reports that around 115 people were also injured in the accident near Kuneru station last night when the train was going to Bhubaneswar from Jagdalpur.<br/><br/>Nine out of 22 coaches of the train travelling with more than 450 passengers rolled off track a little after 11 PM near Kuneru station when most of the passengers were sleeping. The station is 25 kilometre away from Rayagada station in Odisha.<br/><br/>The train was running at high speed while crossing Kuneru station where it had no stoppage. The death toll is likely to go up as several passengers have suffered serious head injuries. Over 100 people are feared trapped and are bring rescued from the bogies by cut opening them.<br/><br/>A team of doctors has reached the accident site. Over 10 ambulances have been deployed to take the injured to Berhampur, Vijayanagaram, Parvatipuram and Rayagada hospitals.<br/><br/>Railways have tied up with Parvatipuram bus depot to arrange for transport of stranded passengers to their respective destinations.<br/><br/>Train services were affected on Rayagada and Vijayanagaram route, with at least 4 trains cancelled and 8 others diverted.<br/><br/>The Railway ministry has announced an ex-gratia of 2 lakh rupees each for next of kin of those killed in the train accident. It has also announced 50,000 rupees for those seriously injured and 25 thousand rupees for minor injuries.<br/><br/>President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have expressed heartfelt condolence on the tragic loss of lives due to the derailment. They prayed for a speedy recovery of all those injured due to the accident. The Prime Minister said, the Railway Ministry is monitoring the situation very closely and is working to ensure quick rescue and relief operations. Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu has also expressed grief over the train accident.<br/><br/>Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said due care and diligence is being taken into consideration by NDRF teams as the victims might be trapped under the mangled bogies. He added the Director General, NDRF is monitoring the situation round the clock and an NDRF Control Room is in touch with Railway Authorities and local civil administration to render any kind of assistance. <br/><br/>Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu along with the Chairman Railway Board are rushing to train accident site. Mr Prabhu has directed senior officials to reach site and ensure prompt rescue and relief operations. The Railway Minister said, he has ordered an inquiry and strictest possible action will be taken against those who could be responsible.<br/><br/>Railways authorities suspect that tampering of the track near Kuneru station led to the derailment as the area is known to be a Naxal-prone zone. The Commissioner Railway Safety will conduct a thorough inquiry to ascertain the cause of the mishap.<br/><br/>Railway has issued helpline numbers. These are Rayagada 06856-223400, 06856-223500, 09439741181, 09439741071 and 07681878777. Help line nos at Vizianagaram are 08922-221202 and 08922-221206.