Chennai: Following the devastating train collision in Vizianagaram district that claimed the lives of 13 individuals following a collision between two trains on the Howrah-Chennai line on a fateful Sunday evening, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, MK Stalin, has called upon the central government to promptly reassess and bolster railway safety measures.
"In light of a distressing sequence of railway incidents, which has seen a significant number of Indian commuters relying on this mode of transport, it is imperative that the union government and the railway authorities take immediate action to review and strengthen train safety measures. The safety and trust of our passengers must remain paramount," stated Chief Minister Stalin.
Stalin also emphasized that the Vizianagaram train collision in Andhra Pradesh occurred mere months after the tragic Balasore Train Accident in June 2023.
The collision between the Vishakapatnam-Palasa passenger train and the Vishakapatnam-Ragada passenger train near Alamanda-Kankatapalli in Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh, on Sunday night resulted in at least 10 fatalities and numerous injuries. Prompt response efforts by local authorities and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were initiated, including the dispatch of a rescue train to aid the affected passengers.
The Superintendent of Police in Vizianagaram reported on Monday morning that the death toll from the Andhra Pradesh train accident had risen to 13, with 50 individuals sustaining injuries. Deepika, Vizianagaram's SP, stated, "Thirteen individuals have tragically lost their lives, with seven already identified, while efforts to identify the remaining victims are ongoing."
Simultaneously, the collision in Vizianagaram has had a significant impact on rail services, resulting in the cancellation of at least 12 trains, the diversion of 15 others, and partial cancellation of seven more, as confirmed by an East Coast Railway official.
