At least ten people were crushed to death and nearly a dozen injured by a speeding train in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh.
Fearing rumours of a compartment in Bokaro Express being caught in a fire, few passengers of the long-distance train pulled the chain at the railway yard at Gotlam station near Vizianagaram town. The incident took place at around 6:50 pm on Saturday.
As the train stopped, passengers of the Bokaro Express stepped out of their compartments and stood in the middle of adjacent railway tracks.
The passengers did not see another Rayagada-Vijaywada train coming from the opposite direction on the railway track and were run over, East Coast railway spokesperson told India Today.
Senior railway officials rushed to the spot on hearing of the incident.
Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge has called the incident as 'most tragic' and ordered authorities in Andhra Pradesh to ensure that the ten who were injured during the incident get appropriate treatment.
Andhra Pradesh CM N Kiran Kumar Reddy offered his condolences for the dead and ordered an inquiry into the train accident.
He has spoken to the District Collector and the Superintendent of Police of Vizianagaram and asked them to supervise the relief operations.
The train accident occurred just days after a Volvo bus caught fire after hitting a culvert in Mahbubnagar district of Andhra. At least 45 people were charred to death in the tragic accident.
Since the bodies were beyond recognition, forensic teams had to conduct DNA tests before handing the remains to the victims' kin.
