39 dead as Hirakhand Express derails in Andhra; Railways suspects foul play

Area is known to have Naxalite activity, but the Odisha Police ruled out involvement of the rebels

At least 39 people were killed and about 60 injured as the engine and nine coaches of Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express jumped the tracks in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district. 

The railways suspect sabotage as the reason for the derailment, the third in as many months. The area is known to have Naxalite activity. But the Odisha Police ruled out the involvement of the rebels.

The East Coast Railway put the death toll at 39. Casualties are expected to rise as many bodies were feared trapped in the mangled coaches of the train, which derailed around 11 pm on Saturday