As many as six people died and several others sustained injuries in a rear collision between two passenger trains in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district. Both trains had started from Visakhapatnam. One train was headed to Palasa in Andhra Pradesh, while the other was headed to Odisha’s Rayagada. The collision led to derailment of three coaches of the Visakhapatnam-Rayagada train.

Following this, rescue operations began at the accident site and one train was dispatched from Vizag to move stranded passengers. "Bogies derailed after a train travelling along with passengers from Vizianagaram to Raigad hit a passenger train travelling on the same route from Visakapatnam to Palasa," East Central Railway CPRO said.

“There was a rear collision between the Visakhapatnam-Palasa passenger train and the Visakhapatnam-Ragada passenger train. 3 coaches were involved in the accident and 10 injured. Rescue operations are underway, Local administration and NDRF were informed for assistance and ambulances. Accident relief trains reached site,” Divisional Railway Manager told news agency ANI.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and took stock of the situation. "PM Narendra Modi spoke to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and took stock of the situation in the wake of the unfortunate train derailment between Alamanda and Kantakapalle section. Authorities are providing all possible assistance to those affected. The Prime Minister extends condolences to the bereaved families and prays that the injured recover soon,” PMO tweeted. 

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed shock over the incident and ordered immediate relief measures. He also asked officials to make proper arrangements in nearby hospitals to provide good medical care. 

“The Chief Minister has issued orders to coordinate other government departments including health, police and revenue to take quick-relief measures and ensure that the injured receive prompt medical services,” The Andhra Pradesh CMO wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishanw wrote, "Rescue operations are underway. All passengers shifted. PM Narendra Modi reviewed the situation. Spoke to the CM of Andhra Pradesh, state govt and railway teams are working in close coordination."

In another incident which took place on October 12, at least four people were killed and several others sustained injuries after six coaches of the North East Superfast train, which was headed for Kamakhya, derailed near the Raghunathpur railway station in Bihar’s Buxar district. 

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Earlier this month, as many as three empty coaches of a suburban Electricity Multiple Unit (EMU) train derailed near Avadi railway station in Tamil Nadu's Chennai. This hampered the movement of nearly a dozen trains. According to officials, the derailment incident forced the railways to delay, regulate, or reschedule nearly a dozen trains.