On receipt of information about the
fire in the B1 (three-tier A/C) coach of Train No. 16594 (Bangalore-Nanded Express), the South Central Railway moved a medical relief van from Dharmavaram station to the accident spot at 4:15am, to provide medical assistance to the passengers.
The coach caught fire in the wee hours of Saturday near Puttaparthi, on the Bangalore Division of South Western Railway, claiming 23 lives.
Addl. Divisional Railway Manager of Guntakal Division Satyanaraya, along with other senior divisional officers and medical teams, rushed to the spot to take part and assist in the relief operations. Staff from the nearby stations of Guntakal Division were also deputed to the accident site to provide relief and assistance at the spot.
Free catering arrangements have been made at Dharmavaram station for the passengers of the affected train. An emergency control room, manned by senior railway officials, was opened at Rail Nilayam, to closely monitor the situation and coordinate the various activities on behalf of SCR.
Minister of State for Railways Kotla Jaya Surya Prakash Reddy rushed by road from Kurnool to the accident site to take stock of the situation and monitor the relief activities.
The South Central Railway has set up help line numbers at the following railway stations to disseminate information to the public:
Secunderabad - 040 27700868, 09701371060
Vikarabad - 08416 252215, 09701371081
Tandur - 08411 272010
Sedam - 08441 276066, 07760998338
Bidar - 08482226404, 07760998400
Dharmavaram - 08559222555
Guntakal - 08552220305, 09701364965
Anantapur - 09491221390
Parli - 02446222008, 08790993329
Udgir - 02385256022, Latur Road - 02381258044
Malkhaid Road - 08441287499
Chittapur - 08474236122
Nanded - 09730471954, 09890127761
Bhalki - 08484 262209
(INN)