HYDERABAD: At least nine persons have reportedly died and around 29 were injured after two trains collided in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh on the Howrah-Chennai line. According to senior officials of the East Coast Railway, the Palasa Passenger hit the Rayagada Passenger from behind at Kankatapalli, which caused three coaches to derail.

Biswajit Sahu, CPRO of East Coast Railway had earlier told news agency ANI, "As per the data, 9 casualties are there and 29 people have been injured in the incident."  The district administration has however updated the injury figures to about 40

Rescue operations are underway with Divisional railway manager Saurabh Prasad Waltair division and his team reaching the spot and accident relief trains and other rescue equipment have been engaged at the site. Andhra Pradesh Minister Botcha Satyanarayana also reached the spot and is overseeing the rescue operations.

On receiving news of the rail accident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office tweeted saying the PM was in touch with the Railway Minister and that all assistance was being provided to those affected.

"@narendramodi spoke to Railway Minister Shri @AshwiniVaishnaw and took stock of the situation in the wake of the unfortunate train derailment between Alamanda and Kantakapalle section. Authorities are providing all possible assistance to those affected. The prime minister extends condolences to the bereaved families and prays that the injured recover soon."

Expressing shock over the incident, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy instructed officials concerned to undertake rescue operations.