Reports also said that the engine and luggage van of Hirakhand Express also got derailed. (Photo: ANI Twitter)

Bhubaneswar: At least 27 people were killed and over 100 were believed to be injured after nine coaches of Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Express derailed in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh, officials said on Sunday.

The incident took place around 11 PM yesterday when the train was on its way to Bhubaneswar from Jagdalpur.

The engine and nine coaches of train no 18448 Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Express went off the track near Kuneru station, Chief PRO of East Coast Railway J P Mishra told PTI.

So far, 27 passengers have been confirmed dead by a team of doctors that rushed to the spot, said Mishra.

Rayagada Sub-collector Muralidhar Swain said that the number of injured could be around 100. The casualty figure may go up as many people are trapped, he added.

District administration of both Vizianagaram and Rayagada are taking active part in rescue operations, said Mishra.

The train had 22 coaches.

Services were affected on Rayagada and Vijayanagaram route, with at least 3 trains cancelled and 8 others diverted. 13 unaffected coaches including luggage-cum-guard van left for Rayagada and they will proceed to Bhubaneswar via Sambhalpur-Angul route. If necessary, extra coaches will be added at Rayagada, Mishra said.

Railways have tied up with Parvatipuram bus depot to arrange for transport. 5 buses have already been arranged to take the passengers towards Palasa and Berhampur areas.

A total of 15 buses are being arranged to take the stranded passengers to their respective destinations.

Over 10 ambulances have been deployed to take the injured to hospital .

At Parvatipuram govt hospital, 22 injured people were taken for treatment from where 7 were referred to Visakhapatnam. 32 were taken to Rayagada district hospital, Mishra said. Reports from Rayagada district headquarters hospital said many of the passengers had sustained grievous injuries and their conditions were critical.

The death toll is likely to increase. General Manager of East Coast Railway Umesh Singh has left for the accident site to take stock of the situation.

Train derailed

At Rayagada, helpline numbers were issued. The helpline numbers are 06856-223400, 06856-223400, 06856-223500, 09439741181 and 9439741071.

Similarly, Visakhapatnam railway station authorities issued helpline numbers.

The numbers are 0891-2746344, 08991-2746344 and 0891-2746300. Khurda Division also released 0674-2490670 as its helpline number. According to East Coast Railway authorities at least four relief vans have been sent to the spot.</s>At least 36 people have been killed and many others injured after a train derailed in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, officials say, reports BBC.

 Nine coaches and the engine left the tracks near Kuneru station in Vizianagaram district, the head of East Coast Railway, JP Mishra, said.

 Many people are still trapped in the wreckage and rescuers warn that the death toll could rise. It is not yet clear what caused the train to derail. The area where the accident occurred is known as a Maoist hotbed.

 Mr Mishra said the injured had been taken to two nearby hospitals. National railway spokesman Anil Saxena said emergency teams had worked through the night to try to locate survivors.

 The crash happened on Saturday evening as the train was on its way from Jagdalpur to Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha state.

 Train accidents are not unusual in India where much of the railway equipment is out of date.

 Last November, more than 140 people were killed in a derailment in India’s northern Uttar Pradesh state.

 In March 2015 another accident in Uttar Pradesh killed 39 people and injured 150.</s>Vizianagaram (Andhra Pradesh): At least 23 people were killed and 50 others were injured as seven coaches of the Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express derailed near Kuneru station in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh late Saturday night, officials said.

The incident took place around 11.30 p.m. when the train was going from Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh) to Odisha capital Bhubaneswar.

"Seven coaches and the engine of the 18448 Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Express derailed near Kuneru station. "Besides the engine, the luggage van, two general coaches, two sleeper coaches, one AC three tier coach and an AC two tier coach derailed," Chief PRO of East Cost Railway J.P. Mishra said.

"Four accident relief vans have been sent to the accident site. The reason behind the incident is yet to be ascertained," the official said. Army has also been deployed to carry out rescue operations. An official of East Cost Railway said one mobile train reached the accident site. The injured were shifted to hospitals nearby. The rescue and relief operations were underway.

As there was complete darkness at the accident site, it took time for authorities to launch rescue and relief operations. "All rescue and relief apparatus mobilised immediately," Ministry of railways tweeted.

Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu was personally monitoring the situation. He directed senior officials to reach to the site immediately, ensure prompt rescue and relief operations. Railway officials from nearby stations rushed to the site to monitor rescue operations.

The train had departed from Jagdalpur at 3 p.m. on Saturday and was scheduled to reach Bhubaneswar at 8.25 a.m. on Sunday. The train ran off the track minutes after it entered Andhra Pradesh from Odisha. The train passes through part of north coastal Andhra before re-entering Odisha.

In November 2016, 149 people died after 14 coaches of the Patna-Indore Express derailed near Pukhraya station in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur district. In December 2016, over 60 passengers were injured, some seriously, when 15 coaches of the Ajmer-Sealdah Express derailed near Kanpur.

Railways have set up helplines at various stations in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha to provide information about the accident.

The numbers for Vizianagaram are: 83331, 83332, 83333, 83334, 08922-221202, 08922-221206</s>At least 23 people were killed and around 100 injured after an express train derailed in southeast India Saturday night in the latest disaster to hit one of the world's largest rail networks. Eight coaches and the engine of the Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar express derailed at 11:00 pm near Kuneru railway station in Vizianagram district of Andhra Pradesh state Eight coaches and the engine of the Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar express derailed at 11:00 pm near Kuneru railway station in Vizianagram district of Andhra Pradesh state.

Start the conversation, or Read more at Manila Bulletin.</s>NEW DELHI: At least 13 people were killed and around 100 injured after an express train derailed in southeastern India in the latest disaster to hit one the world's largest rail networks.

Seven coaches and the engine of the Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar express derailed at 11.00pm local time on Saturday (1.30am Singapore time Sunday) near Kuneru railway station in the Vizianagram district of Andhra Pradesh state.

"Thirteen people are confirmed dead and scores are injured," J. P. Mishra, a spokesman for East Coast Railways told AFP. "The injured have been shifted to two nearby hospitals," he said.

Officials from the railway and local government were carrying out rescue work and relief trains had been sent to evacuate passengers, he said. He did not immediately give a cause for the derailment.

The train was travelling from Jagdalpur city to l Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha state, when it came off the track, nearly 160 kilometres from Visakhapatnam, the nearest city to the accident site. Rail traffic on the coast line has been suspended.

The incident comes nearly two months after 146 people were killed when a passenger train was derailed in Kanpur, northern India.

Last month two people were killed and dozens injured after another train derailed also near Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh state.

India's railway network is still the main form of long-distance travel in the vast country, but it is poorly funded and deadly accidents occur relatively frequently.

In 2014, an express train ploughed into a stationary freight train, also in Uttar Pradesh, killing 26 people.

A 2012 government report said almost 15,000 people were killed every year on India's railways and described the loss of life as an annual "massacre".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has pledged to invest US$137 billion over five years to modernise its crumbling railways, making them safer, faster and more efficient.</s>NEW DELHI (AFP) - At least 23 people were killed and around 100 injured after an express train derailed in southeast India Saturday night in the latest disaster to hit one of the world's largest rail networks.

Eight coaches and the engine of the Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar express derailed at 11:00 pm (1730 GMT) near Kuneru railway station in Vizianagram district of Andhra Pradesh state.

"The death toll has risen to 23. Many people are injured," J. P. Mishra, a spokesman for East Coast Railways told AFP.

"The injured have been shifted to two nearby hospitals and doctors from railways are attending to them," he said.

Officials from the railway and local government were carrying out rescue work and relief trains had been sent to evacuate passengers, he said.

He did not immediately give a cause for the derailment or the number of passengers affected.

The train was travelling from Jagdalpur city to Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha state, when it came off the track nearly 160 kilometres (100 miles) from Visakhapatnam, the nearest city to the accident site.

Thirteen of the train's 22 coaches were unaffected in the incident.

Rail traffic on the coast line has been suspended.

India's railway network is still the main form of long-distance travel in the vast country, but it is poorly funded and deadly accidents occur relatively frequently.

On Friday 10 coaches of an express train were derailed in western Rajasthan state leaving many passengers with minor injuries.

The latest deadly incident comes two months after 146 people were killed when a passenger train was derailed in Kanpur, northern India, in one of the country's worst rail disasters.

Last month two people were killed and dozens injured after another train derailed also near Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh state.

In 2014, an express train ploughed into a stationary freight train, also in Uttar Pradesh, killing 26 people.

A 2012 government report said almost 15,000 people were killed every year on India's railways and described the loss of life as an annual "massacre".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has pledged to invest $137 billion over five years to modernise the crumbling railways, making them safer, faster and more efficient.

The government has signed numerous deals with private companies to upgrade the ageing network.

Japan has agreed to provide $12 billion in soft loans to build India's first bullet train, though plans remain in their infancy.</s>Jan 22 At least 26 people were killed and 50 injured on Saturday night when nine coaches of a passenger train derailed in eastern India, in the latest disaster to hit the vast and accident-prone state railways, police said. The express train from Jagdalpur to Bhubaneswar derailed near Kuneri station, in the state of Andhra Pradesh, around 30 km outside the town of Raigarh.

Start the conversation, or Read more at Reuters.</s>At least 26 killed as Indian train derails

MUMBAI, Jan 22 (Reuters) - At least 26 people were killed and 50 injured on Saturday night when nine coaches of a passenger train derailed in eastern India, in the latest disaster to hit the vast and accident-prone state railways, police said.

The express train from Jagdalpur to Bhubaneswar derailed near Kuneri station, in the state of Andhra Pradesh, around 30 km (18 miles) outside the town of Raigarh.

"Nine bogies were derailed of which three have turned and fallen off the track," said local Superintendent of Police L.K.V. Ranga Rao. "Most of the casualties and deaths are from the three sleeper-class compartments."

No evidence of sabotage has been detected, Rao said, adding the cause of the derailment appeared to be a technical fault. Rescue operations were under way and coaches that had not derailed had been towed from the scene.

India's state railways, built during British colonial rule, have an appalling safety record - the result of decades of underinvestment and a priority on keeping fares low for the 23 million passengers who use the network every day.

In the last serious accident, 150 people died when a train derailed late last year in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. India recorded 27,581 railway deaths in 2014, the most recent year for which figures are available, with most victims falling from, or being struck by, moving trains.

"Anguished to learn about the train accident near Vizianagaram," Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said on Twitter, offering his condolences to the families of the victims. "We are investigating the reason for accident."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also tweeted that the tragedy was "saddening" and said the railways ministry was working to ensure quick relief and rescue operations. (Reporting by Douglas Busvine and Suvashree Choudhury; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)</s>At least 39 people were killed and 50 injured when nine coaches of a passenger train derailed in eastern India in the latest disaster to hit the vast and crash-prone state railways.

The Hirakhand express train from Jagdalpur to Bhubaneswar derailed at about 11.20pm on Saturday night near Kuneri station, in the state of Andhra Pradesh, about 30km from the town of Rayagada.

The reason for the derailment has not been ascertained, said JP Mishra, the chief public relations officer at East Coast Railway, adding that they were not ruling out the possibility of foul play and investigations will be conducted. The area in which the incident occurred is one where Maoist rebels typically operate.

Video footage from the scene showed members of the disaster management team and locals trying to rescue trapped passengers from windows and debris using phones to provide light.

“We will take strict action against whoever is behind this act,” said Indian railways minister Suresh Prabhu. “We won’t spare anyone responsible for this accident.”

Nine bogies were derailed of which three fell off the track, said a local police spokesman, adding that most of the casualties and deaths were from the three sleeper-class compartments.

India’s state railways, built during British colonial rule, have an appalling safety record after decades of underinvestment and a priority on keeping fares low for the 23 million passengers who use the network every day.

In the last serious incident, 150 people died when a train derailed late last year in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. India recorded 27,581 railway deaths in 2014, the most recent year for which figures are available, with most victims falling from, or being struck by, moving trains.</s>At least 23 people were killed and several others injured after the Jagdalpur Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express train derailed near Kuneru station in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh on Saturday night. Nine coaches and the engine of the train derailed at around 11 pm on Saturday.

Relief and rescue operations were put into force by administration immediately and the railways issued a list of helpline numbers. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu offered condolences to the families of those killed in the accident and said that the investigation to ascertain the cause was started.
The Hirakhand express 18448, a scheduled passenger train from Jagdalpur to Bhubaneswar, derails near Kuneru in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. At least 25 are killed and around 200 others are injured.