In a major mishap, the Samaleshwari Express hit a maintenance engine between Singapur Road and Kutaguda in Rayagada district on Tuesday, killing three railway staffs. The deceased were identified as Senior Section Engineer (Electrical) Sagar and Technicians Gouri Naidu and Suresh.
Senior officials of the East Coast Railway (ECoR) said the train passengers have not been affected as only the engine got affected. Following the incident, teams of Fire Services Department and ambulances rushed to the spot.
The Station Masters on duty at Keutaguda and Singapur Road were placed under suspension. ECoR officials said 148 passengers were in the train and two buses have been arranged for their transportation.
The incident occurred after the Howrah-Jagadalpur Samaleshwari Express hit a maintenance engine engaged in repair work on the railway track around 4.30 pm.
The front guard-cum-luggage van and one general second class coach of the express train got derailed following the mishap. But no casualties among the passengers were reported though some passengers were injured in the incident.
Rayagada district Collector Pramod Kumar Behera, who rushed to spot said, “As per preliminary reports, the mishap occurred after the Rayagada station gave clearance to the train. So far, we have recovered one body and there could be two to three more bodies inside. We can say about the exact number of casualties after the fire is brought under control.”