At least 20 people were killed and 100 injured when the Bangalore Express (No 7685) from Hyderabad derailed at Ramalingaipalli village in Andhra Pradesh's Anantpur district early Saturday.
Sixteen bodies were retrieved from one of the nine derailed bogies. Casualties might go up as several passengers were trapped inside the coaches, police said.
The train, which left Kachiguda station in Hyderabad at 1900 IST on Friday, was speeding at 80-100 km per hour when it jumped the tracks between Pidugurai and Pendekallu stations, about 90 km from Kurnool, the police said.
The engine and two bogies derailed first, followed by seven other bogies. Bangalore control room officials said S-1, S-2, S-3, S-4, S-6, S-14 and SL compartments had tipped over.
Joint police teams of Kurnool and Anantpur districts had launched rescue operations.
Special buses were being arranged to shift the injured to various hospitals in Gooty, Kurnool and Anantapur.
The State Technical Education Minister, N Anjaneyulu, who was travelling by the train, was safe, the police said.
Secunderabad Control Room: 040-27786950
Bangalore Railway Helpline: 080-2876288, 080-2203269, 080-2876288, 2874544
Pendekallu Helpline: 08520-277500
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Train Derails in AP; 17 Dead, 90 Injured