Andhra train collision: Death toll climbs to 8, 20 injured
Visakhapatnam (PTI): At least eight persons died and around 20 were injured after two trains collided in Vizianagaram district on the Howrah-Chennai line on Sunday evening, a police official said.
A senior official of the East Coast Railway said the Palasa Passenger hit the Rayagada Passenger from behind at Kankatapalli, which caused three coaches to derail.
A senior Railway official meanwhile said 18-20 people were injured, adding that the injured are being shifted to hospitals in Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram.
Dr S Appala Naidu, Superintendent of the Government General Hospital In-Charge, Vizianagaram, spoke to PTI and said, "Ambulances have been sent to the accident sites and as of now we have received 20 injured people, out of which, three are serious. More ambulances are on the way so the number of injured persons might increase."
The doctor added, "We haven't received any bodies in the hospital as of now. However, there are reports of death of some passengers too."
VIDEO | Andhra Pradesh Train Accident: Officials carry out rescue operation in Vizianagaram. pic.twitter.com/Q6SceYWN4V
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 29, 2023
East Coast Railway CPRO said that the accident took place between Alamanda and Kantakapalli in Vizianagaram-Kottavalasa Railway Section of Waltair Division of East Coast Railway Zone at about 1900hrs.
The officials said that train number 08532 Visakhapatnam-Palasa Passenger train and 08504 Visakhapatnam-Rayagada Passenger Special were involved in the accident and said that the Rayagada passenger had overshot the signal.
Two Coaches of 08532 Visakhapatnam-Palasa Passenger train from the rear and the loco of 08504 Visakhapatnam-Rayagada Passenger got derailed, the official added.
Rescue operations are underway with DRM/Waltair and his Team on the spot. Accident Relief Trains and other rescue equipments have been engaged, the official said.
Divisional Railway Manager Saurabh Prasad reached the site, and rescue operations are on in full swing.
On receiving news of the rail accident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office tweeted saying the PM was in touch with the Railway Minister and that all assistance was being provided to those affected.
"@narendramodi spoke to Railway Minister Shri @AshwiniVaishnaw and took stock of the situation in the wake of the unfortunate train derailment between Alamanda and Kantakapalle section. Authorities are providing all possible assistance to those affected. The Prime Minister extends condolences to the bereaved families and prays that the injured recover soon."
Andhra Pradesh Minister Botcha Satyanarayana also reached the spot and is overseeing the rescue operations.
Senior officials of Vizianagaram district have reached the spot to ascertain the situation and monitor rescue operations.
Rescue operations are hampered by darkness. Meanwhile, East Coast Railway has set up helplines.
Local administration and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were informed, seeking assistance and ambulances, and accident relief trains have reached the site, officials said.
Expressing shock over the incident, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy instructed officials concerned to undertake rescue operations.
He asked them to arrange ufficient number of ambulances to ferry the injured.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
