https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Valigonda_train_wreckValigonda train wreck - Revision history2026-10-25T10:41:08ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Valigonda_train_wreck&diff=141513&oldid=previmported>Grutness: /* Similar accidents */2021-08-07T02:13:25Z<p><span class="autocomment">Similar accidents</span></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}<br />
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The '''Valigonda rail disaster''' occurred on 29 October 2005 near the town of [[Valigonda]], south of [[Hyderabad]] in the Indian state of [[Andhra Pradesh]]. A [[flash flood]] swept away a small [[rail bridge]], and a "[[Delta Fast Passenger]]" train traveling on it [[derailment|derailed]] at the broken section of the line, killing at least 114 people and injuring over 200.<br />
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==Accident details==<br />
The train was traveling south at night, packed with hundreds of sleeping holiday makers visiting relatives for [[Diwali]], when a huge [[irrigation tank]] situated upstream from the rail lines ruptured, sending thousands of gallons of water down the channel, destroying the bridge in the darkness. When the [[passenger train]] hit the broken section a short time later, nobody had reported the damage, and the engine and seven coaches of the train disappeared into the gap created by the broken line. Four [[train coach|coaches]] crashed into a field close to where the track had been, whilst three more fell into the channel and were swept farther afield into deeper water, where most of the fatalities occurred.<br />
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In the day following the accident, the [[Indian Navy]] supplied [[Underwater diving|divers]], who dove into the flood waters with [[blow torch]]es to try to rescue people who might have been trapped in air pockets in the sunken carriages. Reportedly, several people were rescued this way. The [[Indian Army]] and [[Air Force of India|Air Force]] also provided assistance with rescue, medical and heavy lift helicopters, by collecting bodies and maintaining security at the site.<br />
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The area had been lashed by [[monsoon]] rains for several weeks before the accident, which had waterlogged fields and over-filled the irrigation tank, which had ruptured due to unknown factors exacerbated by the heavy volume of rainfall. The flooding had also destroyed several roads, hampering efforts to get [[emergency medical services|emergency personnel]] to the scene quickly. [[India]]'s Junior [[Transport Minister]] commented that "little could have been done to avoid the accident".<br />
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== Similar accidents ==<br />
* {{flagicon|New Zealand}} 24 December 1953 – [[Tangiwai disaster]] – [[Tangiwai]], [[North Island of New Zealand|North Island]], [[New Zealand]]: the Tangiwai railway bridge over the [[Whangaehu River]] collapsed as the overnight [[express train]] between [[Wellington]] and [[Auckland]] passed over it; the bridge supports had been weakened by a [[lahar]] a few minutes before the train passed. 151 people were killed. A passerby was not able to warn the train in time. The rebuilt bridge is equipped with high water warning devices.<br />
* {{flagicon|Australia}} 1880 – [[Murrurundi]] – night mail train derailed at a [[washaway]] – 10 killed.<br />
* {{flagicon|Australia}} 25 January 1885 – Salt Creek near [[Cootamundra]] – night [[mail train (disambiguation)|mail train]] derailed at a [[washaway]] – 7 killed.<ref>[[Australian Railway History|Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin]] November 1952</ref><br />
* {{flagicon|United States}} 7 August 1904 – Eden, [[Colorado]], [[United States]]: Train caught in bridge washout; 97 known dead; 14 missing.<br />
* {{flagicon|United States}} 27 September 1923 – near [[Glenrock, Wyoming]] – a bridge over Coal Creek was washed away and a passenger train derailed, killing 30 of the train's 66 passengers. <br />
* {{flagicon|Wales}} 8 September 1945 – [[Llangollen]], [[Denbighshire]], [[Wales]]: An early morning mail train crashes after the adjacent canal flooded and washed away the track at Sun Bank, killing the driver and causing a fire. <br />
* {{flagicon|Kenya}} 1993 – 114 perished in a passenger train which plunged into a river after floods washed away a bridge at Ngai Ndethya.<br />
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== See also ==<br />
* [[List of rail accidents (2000–present)]]<br />
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== References ==<br />
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{{Reflist}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
{{Wikinews|Major train wreck in Southern India}}<br />
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4387474.stm BBC News Report]<br />
*[http://old.heraldextra.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=34485 Photograph of the wreckage]<br />
*[https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-10-30-india-train_x.htm USA Today News Report]<br />
*[http://newsfromrussia.com/world/2005/10/31/66617.html Russian News Report]<br />
*[https://www.theguardian.com/india/story/0,,1605148,00.html Guardian News Report]<br />
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{{2005 railway accidents}}<br />
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[[Category:Railway accidents in 2005]]<br />
[[Category:2005 in India]]<br />
[[Category:Rail transport in Andhra Pradesh]]<br />
[[Category:Railway accidents and incidents in Andhra Pradesh]]<br />
[[Category:Derailments in India]]<br />
[[Category:Bridge disasters in India]]<br />
[[Category:Bridge disasters caused by scour damage]]</div>imported>Grutness