The accident occurred in the wee hours of Saturday when the engine and seven bogies of the Repalle-Secunderabad Delta Fast Passenger train plunged into a swollen rivulet after the twisted and flooded tracks caved in following heavy rains.

Senior railway officials faulted the state irrigation and revenue departments for failing to forewarn them about overflowing tanks in the region and the possible danger to the railway bridge due to breaches.

The state officials, on the other hand, refused to take the onus for the mishap and pointed out that the government provided all necessary information about the flood situation.

Questions were also raised over the possible failure of the gangman in alerting the driver of the ill-fated train on the flooding of the tracks.

Army soldiers and rescue workers look for survivors near the wreckage of the derailed train.

Photograph: Reuters/UNI Photo

Also Read:
Andhra train mishap
Railways, govt agencies blame each other