Visakhapatnam: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy visited the Government General Hospital in Vizianagaram on Monday and consoled the victims of the Kantakapalli rail accident. He assured the victims of all help till they fully recovered from the present trauma.
The CM asked Vizianagaram collector S. Nagalakshmi to disburse the ex gratia to the bereaved families and the injured immediately. Ensure to provide the injured the best of medical treatment, he said.
The Chief Minister arrived at the hospital at 1.20 pm and visited the exhibition point where the accident photos were displayed. After a brief interaction with the officials, he visited the wards and spoke to the victims.
Education minister Botsa Satyanarayana, industries minister Gudivada Amarnath, local MLA Veerabhadra Swamy, Mayor Vijayalakshmi, ST commissioner Shankar Rao and others were present.
Jagan Mohan Reddy later conducted an aerial survey of the accident site at Kantakapalli. Railway officials had urged him to avoid a visit to the mishap spot due to the urgent track restoration works.
The Chief Minister has requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to constitute a high level panel to thoroughly inquire into the causes of the mishap.
The CM said. “The devastating train accident has caused me great pain. A running train collided with a stationed train, both of which were running in the same direction. This horrifying accident gives rise to certain obvious questions: Why did the brake system and the alert system not function? Why did the signalling fail? How did the communications system fail?”
“My thoughts and prayers are with the families who lost their loved ones. Our government will ensure the best possible care of the injured,’’ he said.
