Saturday, October 29 2005 15:41 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Nalgonda (AP): At least 50 people were killed and many more feared dead after a passenger train derailed and fell into a rain-swollen reservoir between Ramannapet and Valligonda railway stations near here in the wee hours today (Oct 29, 2005).

The engine and seven bogies of Repalle-Secunderabad passenger train fell from the track over a bridge which was apparently washed away due to floods caused by heavy rains in the area.

While five badly mangled bogies were nearly submerged in the swirling waters, two others derailed on the land, in all trapping more than 200 passengers. The accident took place at 4:30 am when most of the passengers were asleep.

Villagers were first to reach the spot and many jumped into the waters to rescue people. Several passengers swam to safety.

Rescue operations were taken up on war-footing with the help of army, navy, railway protection force jawans and locals.

A helicopter and six boats were also pressed into the rescue operations. Relief teams with doctors from Hyderabad, Guntur and Vijayawada have reached the spot.

Fifty bodies have been pulled out from the bogies so far, officials on the spot said, adding, more than 200 passengers were still feared trapped in the bogies. The driver of the train was among the dead.

The railway track was submerged and damaged due to heavy rains, South Central Railway (SCR) spokesman said here.

Some of the bodies were feared to have been washed away in the heavy current in the swollen reservoir following flash floods from the adjoining three villages.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy described the mishap as a 'human tragedy' and said all necessary steps are being taken to provide relief and rescue to the victims.

"We have already requisitioned army divers to assist the rescue operations," he added. A release issued by the South Central Railway (SCR) has put the death toll at 18 and the number of injured at 80. More than 800 passengers have been rescued by the RPF.

The release said the train while passing through Ramannapeth and Valligonda stations derailed due to flash floods and sudden burst of Ramasamuduram water reservior leading to seven coaches of the train being submerged in water partially.

SCR said state transport buses (APSRTC) have been arranged to ferry stranded passengers.

Train traffic on the route has been affected with Secunderabad bound Narsapur Express, Visakha Express and Falaknuma Express directed to run via Kazipet while Nagarjuna Express, Palnadu Express and Secunderabad-Repalli passenger trains have been cancelled.

10 feared dead as train derails in Andhra Pradesh
Saturday, October 29 2005; 11:09 Hrs (IST)


At least ten passengers were feared dead when the Secunderabad-Repalli delta passenger train derailed near Ramanapeth in Nalgonda district in the wee hours today (Oct 29, 2005), police source said.

Seven bogies of the train derailed and five of them fell into a river, they said. According to unconfirmed reports, 30 people were feared dead. However, a railway spokesman said casualties are yet to be confirmed.

"Our priority is to give relief to the train passengers," the spokesman said. Relief team from Vijayawada and Hyderabad with senior officials has rushed to the spot.

The accident apparently occurred as the track was submerged in water following heavy rains since last night, sources said.