Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said eleven coaches of an express train derailed in Odisha’s Cuttack district on Sunday. Two people from Assam were injured in the incident when the Bengaluru-Kamakhya AC Express was heading to Kamakhya station in Assam’s Guwahati from Bengaluru. There were no reports of casualties reported as of now. Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of the East Coast Railway Ashok Kumar Mishra said eleven coaches of the SMVT Bengaluru-Kamakhya AC Express derailed at Nirgundi near Manguli at 11.54 am today.
Rescue and relief officials rushed to the accident spot. Rescue and restoration work on the affected stretch was in progress on war footing under the supervision of senior railway officials. According to CPRO Mishra, a relief train was being arranged to ferry the stranded passengers to their destinations. Three trains were diverted because of the derailment. These trains are Dhauli Express, Neelachal Express and Purulia Express.
Personnel of the NDRF and Odisha Fire Service were assisting the Railways in the rescue operation, Odisha Fire Service Director-General Sudhansu Sarangi was quoted as saying by news agency. The Railways has issued two helplines – 8455885999 (Bhubaneswar) and 8991124238 (Cuttack) – for assistance. Mishra said we have arranged a control room and helplines for the affected passengers. We will share the profile of the passengers soon.
Sarma, the Assam Chief Minister, said two people onboard the Bengaluru-Kamakhya AC Express were injured and out of danger. He said his office was in touch with the Odisha government and the Railways over the incident. Sharing an update on the incident involving Train 12551. There are no casualties from Assam. Two persons from the state – Willson Digal of Udalguri and Amiran Nisha of Baksa – are injured and undergoing treatment. Both are out of danger.
