In a heart-wrenching incident that unfolded near Kothavalasa railway station in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh, at least 13 lives were lost, and 50 individuals were injured as two passenger trains collided.

The calamity occurred when a train traveling from Visakhapatnam to Rayagada derailed after colliding with the Visakhapatnam-Palasa passenger train around 7 pm on a fateful Sunday evening.

This heart-wrenching accident marks the third rail catastrophe since June 2 when the Coromandel Express collided with a stationary freight train in Odisha's Balasore, resulting in the tragic loss of 296 lives and injuries to 1,200 others. On October 11, another incident transpired as five individuals perished, and 30 sustained injuries when the Delhi-Kamakhya North East Express derailed in Bihar's Buxar.

The tragic events of that Sunday evening unfolded when the Visakhapatnam-Palasa train was in the process of switching from the main track to a side track. Simultaneously, the Visakhapatnam-Rayagada train, traveling on the main track, rear-ended the other train.

This collision led to the derailment of the last three coaches, causing severe damage to two of them. Vizianagaram SP Deepika Patil confirmed that "at least 10 persons were killed, and over 25 were seriously injured in the accident, with four coaches of the Rayagada passenger train being involved."

However, East Coast Railway's Waltair division manager Saurabh Prasad stated that "three coaches were involved in the accident."

Since the affected coaches were "unreserved," the details of the deceased passengers remain unknown. Authorities fear that the toll may rise as some passengers could still be trapped inside the mangled coaches. Swift action was taken by locals from the nearby Kantakapalle village, who initiated relief and rescue operations, extricating trapped passengers and rushing the injured to hospitals.

However, the rescue efforts were hampered by the pitch-dark conditions, prompting the deployment of emergency lights to assist police, railway personnel, and other officials. NDRF and SDRF teams were mobilized, and ambulances were dispatched from Anakapalli and Visakhapatnam to tend to the injured.

A portion of the injured passengers was transferred to government hospitals in Kothavalasa and KG Hospital in Visakhapatnam, where special medical teams were formed to treat them. The Vizianagaram SP noted that the death toll might increase as some passengers are in critical condition.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his condolences to the grieving families and extended his prayers for the swift recovery of the injured. Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy instructed officials to provide relief and ensure prompt medical attention to the injured.

The Andhra Pradesh government announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 2 lakh each to the injured individuals from the state. Additionally, a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each was offered to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the injured passengers from other states.

An inquiry into the accident has been initiated, as the exact cause remains unclear. Preliminary information suggests that the Visakhapatnam-Palasa train was moving slowly between Kantakapalle and Alamanda, while the other train was also traveling on the same route.

As the dust settled, survivors shared their harrowing experiences. Simhadri, a 30-year-old passenger on the Palasa train, described the jolting impact and the chaotic aftermath, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.

Many passengers immediately joined relief efforts and witnessed the extent of injuries among their fellow travelers. He recounted, "I was jolted out of my seat. Other passengers too fell down," and he saw more than 50 people injured and crying in pain, with luggage strewn all over.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, several train services were canceled, serving as a stark reminder of the imperative need for rail safety and preventative measures.

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