Driver, Assistant Were Watching Cricket On Phone: Minister On 2023 Andhra Train Accident That Killed 14

New Delhi: The tragic train accident in Andhra Pradesh on October 29, 2023, which claimed the lives of 14 passengers, has been attributed to driver distraction by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

The accident occurred near Kantakapalli in the Vizianagaram district when the Rayagada Passenger train travelling from Visakhapatnam to Rayagada collided with the stationary Visakhapatnam-Palasa train at around 7 pm. The collision, which took place on the Howrah-Chennai line, resulted in the derailment of several coaches and left over 50 people injured.

Highlighting the cause of the accident, Vaishnaw revealed that while the official report by the Commissioners of Railway Safety (CRS) is awaited, a preliminary investigation indicated the driver and assistant driver of the Rayagada Passenger train were likely distracted, possibly by a cricket match, which led them to disregard railway signals.

Vaishnaw reiterated the government’s commitment to prioritizing safety within the railway system, aiming to identify the root causes of incidents and implementing effective solutions to prevent their recurrence.