Souravroyjournalist at 15:39, 5 February 2025

2025-02-05T15:39:44Z

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{{Short description|Railway accident in Vizianagaram district, India}}

{{Use Indian English|date=October 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox public transit accident
| name = 2023 Andhra Pradesh train collision
| pushpin_map =
| pushpin_map alt =
| date = {{Start date|2023|10|29|df=y}}
| location = [[Vizianagaram district]], [[Andhra Pradesh]]
| location_city =
| location_dist_km =
| location_dist_mi =
| country = [[India]]
| line = [[Howrah–Chennai main line]]
| operator = [[Indian Railways]]
| owner =
| service =
| type = [[Signal passed at danger]]
| cause = [[Human error]]

| bus =
| trains = 2
| deaths = 14
| injuries = 30
}}
On 29 October 2023, two [[passenger train]]s collided in [[southern India]]'s [[Vizianagaram district]] in [[Andhra Pradesh]] state killing at least 14 people and leaving about 60 others injured.<ref name="BBC">{{cite news |title=Andhra Pradesh: India train crash kills 13 and injures dozens |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-67234331 |work=BBC News |date=30 October 2023 |access-date=30 October 2023 |archive-date=30 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030105058/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-67234331 |url-status=live }}</ref> Three carriages of a stationary [[passenger train]] were derailed after it was hit by another train.

On 2 March 2024, Railway Minister [[Ashwini Vaishnaw]] claimed that the driver and the assistant driver of one of the two passenger trains that collided were watching a cricket match on the phone.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 March 2024 |title=Oct 2023 Andhra train collision: Vaishnaw says driver, assistant were 'watching cricket on phone' |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/india/story/oct-2023-andhra-train-collision-vaishnaw-says-driver-assistant-were-watching-cricket-on-phone-419812-2024-03-02 |access-date=3 March 2024 |website=Business Today |language=en}}</ref> No evidence was found after the analysis of mobile data usage of the loco pilots.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kumar |first=S. Vijay |date=26 April 2024 |title=Andhra Pradesh train crash: No evidence of loco pilots watching cricket during train collision as claimed by Railway Minister |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/no-evidence-of-loco-pilots-watching-cricket-during-ap-train-crash-as-claimed-by-railway-minister/article68110372.ece |access-date=27 April 2024 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

==Incident==
[[File:APSDRF Team at Train collision site.jpg|alt=TWO APSDRF personnel walking at the collision site|thumb|APSDRF Team at the collision site]]
On 29 October 2023, around 7:00 pm (13:30 UTC), the collision occurred on the [[Howrah–Chennai main line]]<ref name="Hindu">{{cite news |title=At least 11 dead, over 60 injured as two trains collide near Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/many-dead-as-two-trains-collide-near-vizianagaram-in-andhra-pradesh/article67474016.ece |work=The Hindu |date=29 October 2023 |language=en-IN |access-date=30 October 2023 |archive-date=30 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030110343/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/many-dead-as-two-trains-collide-near-vizianagaram-in-andhra-pradesh/article67474016.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> after Visakhapatnam-[[Palasa]] Express service train stopped due to a break in an [[overhead cable]] when it was hit by an oncoming [[passenger train]] travelling from [[Visakhapatnam]] in Andhra Pradesh, to [[Rayagada]] in [[Odisha]], derailing its three carriages, in the [[Vizianagaram district]] of [[Andhra Pradesh]], India.<ref name="CNN">{{cite news |last1=Prasad |first1=Ritu |title=At least 10 reported dead after trains collide in India |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/29/asia/india-vizianagaram-train-collision-deaths/index.html |work=CNN |date=29 October 2023 |language=en |access-date=30 October 2023 |archive-date=30 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030114541/https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/29/asia/india-vizianagaram-train-collision-deaths/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="BBC"/><ref name="Reuters">{{cite news |last1=Dash |first1=Jatindra |last2=Sadam |first2=Rishika |title=At least 10 dead in Indian train collision |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/india/passenger-train-derails-indias-andhra-pradesh-ndtv-says-3-dead-2023-10-29/ |work=Reuters |date=29 October 2023 |language=en |access-date=30 October 2023 |archive-date=30 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030105136/https://www.reuters.com/world/india/passenger-train-derails-indias-andhra-pradesh-ndtv-says-3-dead-2023-10-29/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The collision occurred between [[Kantakapalli]] and [[Alamanda, Vizianagaram district|Alamanda]] railway stations<ref name="TIE">{{cite news |title=13 dead as two passenger trains collide in Andhra, officials say driver missed red signal |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/andhra-pradesh-train-accident-live-updates-9004874/lite/ |work=The Indian Express |date=29 October 2023 |language=en |access-date=30 October 2023 |archive-date=29 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231029210022/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/andhra-pradesh-train-accident-live-updates-9004874/lite/ |url-status=live }}</ref> resulting in severe damage to three coaches of the Palasa passenger, and the [[locomotive]] and two coaches of the Rayagada passenger.<ref name="The Hindu">{{cite news |title=Andhra train accident updates {{!}} Initial probe points finger at Rayagada passenger train crew |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh-vizianagaram-train-accident-live-updates-oct-30-2023/article67475483.ece |work=The Hindu |date=30 October 2023 |language=en-IN |access-date=30 October 2023 |archive-date=30 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030200115/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh-vizianagaram-train-accident-live-updates-oct-30-2023/article67475483.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> At least 14 people were killed and 50 others were injured as a result.<ref name="NDTV">{{cite news |title=Train Accident Highlights: 14 Killed, 50 Injured As 2 Trains Collide In Andhra |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/andhra-pradesh-train-accident-live-updates-9-killed-40-injured-as-2-trains-collide-in-andhra-4526421 |work=NDTV |date=30 October 2023 |access-date=30 October 2023 |archive-date=30 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030163947/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/andhra-pradesh-train-accident-live-updates-9-killed-40-injured-as-2-trains-collide-in-andhra-4526421 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Response==
The [[National Disaster Response Force]] team, [[Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Response and Fire Services Department|State Disaster Response and Fire Services Department]], police and railway personnel were engaged in the [[rescue]] operation. Heavy duty [[Crane (machine)|cranes]] were deployed at the site for the removal of the wrecked coaches.<ref name="The Hindu2"/>

According to Biswajit Sahu, Chief Public Relations Officer of [[East Coast Railway]], a "human error" caused by "overshooting of signal" by the second train led to the collision.<ref name="BBC"/> A preliminary probe by [[Indian Railways]] into the incident determined that the Rayagada passenger train passed two defective auto signals violating norms and held its driver and the assistant driver responsible for the collision. Both crew members were among those killed.<ref name="NDTV"/>

Following the crash, 33 trains were cancelled and 22 others were diverted.<ref name="BBC"/> Later, the [[railway track]] was restored within a span of 20 hours, allowing the train services to resume.<ref name="The Hindu2">{{cite news |title=Andhra Pradesh train accident {{!}} 'Overshot' main cause of fatal accident, suspects Railway officials |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/ap-train-accident-death-toll-increases-number-of-injured-goes-up/article67476910.ece |work=The Hindu |date=30 October 2023 |language=en-IN |access-date=30 October 2023 |archive-date=30 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030200150/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/ap-train-accident-death-toll-increases-number-of-injured-goes-up/article67476910.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Prime Minister's Office announced an [[ex gratia]] of ₹2 [[lakh]] for the next of kin of each of the deceased and ₹50,000 to each of the injured from the [[Prime Minister's National Relief Fund]].<ref name="TIE"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{2023 railway accidents}}
{{Disasters in India in 2023}}

[[Category:2020s in Andhra Pradesh|2023 train collision]]
[[Category:2023 disasters in India]]
[[Category:October 2023 in India]]
[[Category:Train collisions in India]]
[[Category:Railway accidents in 2023]]
[[Category:Railway accidents and incidents in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Vizianagaram district]]

2023 Andhra Pradesh train collision - Revision history

Souravroyjournalist at 15:39, 5 February 2025