Hyderabad, Aug 24 (IANS): Five people, including a Congress lawmaker from Karnataka, were killed when a speeding truck collided with an express train at a level crossing near Penukonda in Andhra Pradesh on Monday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders condoled the deaths.
"The accident took place around 2.30 a.m. when the granite-laden truck crashed into the passing Bengaluru-Nanded Express at a level-crossing between Rangepalli and Penukonda stations in Anantapur district," a South Western Railway (SWR) official told IANS in Bengaluru.
The accident spot is in the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh, about 140 km from Bengaluru.
Among the all male victims, three were passengers, one was a railway mechanic and another a cleaner of the truck.
The victims were identified as A. Venkatesh Naik, 80; T.S.D. Raj, 53; Edora Pulla Rao, 48; and Syed Ahmed, 55; who were travelling in the AC first class (H1) coach of the ill-fated train.
Police, however, could not establish the identity of the cleaner, as the truck driver fled the spot and is absconding.
Naik was the Congress legislator from Devadurga reserved assembly segment in Raichur district, about 500 km from Bengaluru.
All the deceased passengers were travelling to Raichur from Bengaluru. Naik was returning to his native place after attending a wedding in Bengaluru.
Three passengers, including two men and a woman who were injured, were brought back to Bengaluru in a bus and admitted to private hospitals for treatment.
The injured were travelling in the AC three-tier coach (B1), which was behind the AC first class coach.
The zonal railway blamed the truck driver who hit the passing train at high speed after crashing into the closed level crossing gate.
"The impact was such that the truck ripped through the AC first class coach and derailed it along with three vestibule coaches, including the AC three-tier coach and two second class sleepers (S1 and S2)," the official said.
The derailed coaches were behind the engine, a brake van and two unreserved compartments.
"The loaded lorry approached the level crossing gate at high speed, broke the boom gate and hit the H1 coach of the running train. Its driver did not heed to any safety warnings, resulting in the collision and derailment of four coaches," the zonal railway said in a statement.
Six express trains, which were to pass through the route during the day, were diverted and departures of three other trains were rescheduled till the track was restored. A few day-time passenger trains on the route were cancelled.
The track was restored on Monday night after the derailed coaches were removed from the site and normal services resumed, the official said.
Earlier, Anantapur district collector K. Sasidhar told reporters about 20 state-run buses were arranged to take the stranded passengers to their respective destinations.
Expressing shock over the accident, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu directed the district collector to conduct an inquiry.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the deaths.
"My thoughts are with the families of all those who lost their lives in the unfortunate accident of the Bangalore City-Nanded express," he said in a statement.
"My condolences to the family of Karnataka MLA (legislator) Shri Venkatesh Naik. He will be remembered for his service to society," Modi added.
Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi also condoled the deaths.
"I am shocked and anguished over the Bangalore-Nanded Express tragedy and extend my condolences to the families of the deceased," Sonia Gandhi said.
The Congress president said she hoped adequate relief and rescue work was being undertaken at the accident site.
Party vice president Rahul Gandhi also expressed his condolences.
"Very sad to hear about the tragic accident of the Bangalore-Nanded express. My deepest condolences to the families of the victims," he said in a tweet.