At least 10 people are dead and over 90 people injured after two train cars collided head-on in the southeastern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday morning.
The incident occurred when a goods train and a passenger train collided in the state’s Anantapur district. The passenger train was travelling between Pothanapalli and Dharmavaram while the goods train was travelling from Kurnool to Anantapur.
According to officials from the South Central Railway zone, at least 4 people died on the spot and 6 others died at the hospital. More than 90 people have been injured in the crash.
Rescue workers remain on the scene of the incident, with medical personnel in attendance to attend to those injured.
The cause of the crash is still unknown, although there have been reports of a broken railway track being the source of the collision. Officials have been unable to confirm this however.
Indian Railways have set up two helplines to assist victims and their families. The numbers are 040-23201107 and 040-23201108.
The South Central Railway has said it will pay compensation to families of those killed in the crash and provide medical assistance to those injured.
The crash comes days after several trains in India were delayed or cancelled due to a bridge collapse in Tamil Nadu.
The incident once again brings to light the need for increased safety measures in India’s railway network. This comes as the country’s railway system is set for an upgrade, with plans to modernize infrastructure and to introduce more advanced technology to monitor safety.
India’s railway network has been in operation since the 1850s and spans more than 63,000 kilometers. It is the world’s Third largest railway network and carries over 25 million passengers daily.
It is a tragedy each time India loses lives due to railway accidents. We can only hope that the necessary safety protocols and improved monitoring are implemented in the coming years to avoid such unfortunate events in the future.