Hyderabad: Atleast five people including Congress MLA of Karnataka, Venkatesh Naik, were killed in the early hours of Monday in a Bangalore-Nanded express train mishap. The accident occurred when a truck loaded with granite hit the Bengaluru-Nanded Express at a level crossing in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. Many other passengers were wounded in the accident. The injured were admitted to a hospital.
According to police, five passengers in the H1 compartment including the MLA were killed. The helper of the truck also died. The driver of the truck jumped off the vehicle before the mishap and survived. It is learnt that the truck collided the train as the brakes failed. The truck crashed through the gate and hit the train at around 2.30 am near Penukonda. With this impact, three coaches derailed.
The accident took place when the train was on its way to Nanded in Maharashtra from Bengaluru. The situation is being monitored by the Union Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu. Few trains on south central and south-western railway lines have been diverted.
The helpline number at the accident site is 9701374062
Penukonda Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) helpline 08555-220228
Dharmavaram helpline 08559-222555
Anantapur railway helpline 08554-236444
