Odisha crash: 178 passengers from Andhra were aboard Coromandel Express

Vijayawada: As many as 178 passengers from Andhra Pradesh were reportedly travelling in Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express involved in the triple train crash at Odisha's Balasore.

At least 261 people have been killed and more than 900 injured in the crash on Friday involving the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and a goods train.

Speaking to reporters, Anup Satpathy, divisional railway manager, Waltair division of East Coast Railway, said there were 178 passengers from AP are in Coromandel Express, however, the number of casualties and injured is yet to be known.

“The coaches with LHB technology have prevented a major accident. LHB coaches, named for the Linke Hofmann Busch company that designed them, are meant to stop pile-ups of coaches in case of accidents. If it hadn’t been LHB coaches, the casualties would have been more,” said Mr. Satpathy.

He said they are visiting the accident site in a special train with volunteers, labour, experts, and machinery and medical equipment to provide assistance to the Odisha Railways.

Among the total passengers from Andhra Pradesh, 110 were to disembark at Visakhapatnam, 26 at Rajamahendravaram, one at Tadepalligudem, two at Eluru, and 39 at Vijayawada.

According to a table shared by the Waltair division of the East Coast Railway zone on Saturday, 114 passengers of the 178 were in three-tier air-conditioned coaches (3AC), 38 passengers in the sleeper class, 17 in two-tier AC coach, and nine in tier-one AC coach (1AC), while the number of passengers in the general category coach is not known.

“The number of those who were coming to Andhra Pradesh will be higher than the official record. This train goes to Odisha and West Bengal where migrants from those states are significant in Visakhapatnam. So, mostly they don’t buy a ticket and just board the train,” said a source from the Railways.

AP CM sends teams to the site

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Saturday constituted a high-level committee under the aegis of IT minister G. Amarnath to visit the accident site in Odisha and help in the relief and rescue operations.

On Saturday morning, the chief minister held a meeting with CMO officials and reviewed the situation, directing them to be in touch with the Odisha CMO and Railway officials.

“Establish inquiry and grievance cells in the offices of the district collectors to deal with grievances and respond immediately,” said Jagan in an official release.

The IAS officers’ committee dispatched to Odisha includes civil supplies commissioner Arun Kumar, commercial taxes joint commissioner Anand, and Srikakulam joint commissioner Naveen, along with the IT minister.

The Andhra Pradesh government has made arrangements in hospitals in Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, and Srikakulam districts to treat the injured, including keeping ambulances ready. Waltair division of the East Coast Railways zone has set up three helplines in Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, and Srikakulam for relief operations.

Helpline numbers have been set up at Visakhapatnam (0891 - 2746330 & 0891 2744619), Vizianagaram (08922 - 221202 & 08922 221206), and Srikakulam (08942 286213 and 08942 286245).

250 passengers sent in special train

As many as 250 passengers who survived the train crash in Odisha are arriving on a special train, with the majority of them scheduled to disembark at Chennai.

Train number P/13671 started from Bhadrak towards Chennai on 3 June, carrying the stranded passengers from the accident site at Bahanaga Bazaar, and it will arrive at Vijayawada by 9.30 p.m. where nine passengers are scheduled to alight on Saturday night.

As per preliminary information, four passengers will disembark at Bherampur, while 41 will get off at Visakhapatnam, one in Rajamahendravaram, two in Tadepelligudem, and 133 in Chennai, a Vijayawada Railway division official from the South Central Railway (SCR) zone said. This train is expected to reach Chennai Central railway station on Sunday.

Inputs from PTI