Eight dead after train runs over passengers in AP

Hyderabad: At least eight persons were run over by a train in Andhra Pradesh on Saturday after they pulled a chain and got down from another train following rumours of a fire.

The horrific mishap occurred Saturday evening near Gotlam close to Vizianagaram town in north coastal Andhra, 700 km from here. The toll may go up as it was pitch dark at the time of the mishap, making rescue work difficult.

Police said the incident occurred when some passengers of the Alappuzha-Dhanbad Express pulled chain and got down after rumours of the train catching fire. According to eyewitnesses, they came under Raigarh-Vijayawada passenger train on the adjacent track.

The dead included two women. Two passengers were injured. Railway authorities have set up a helpline at Visakhapatnam to provide information about the victims. The telephone numbers are 0891-2843003, 2843004, 2843005.

Senior police and railway officials rushed to the scene. Vizianagaram district collector Kantilal Dande is supervising the rescue and relief work.

Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, who is in Bangalore, expressed shock and anguish over the mishap. He directed the collector, superintendent of police and other top officials to supervise rescue and relief operations.

According to a statement from the chief minister's office, he asked officials to provide the best treatment to the injured.