North India Statesman
A devastating rail tragedy unfolded in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district on Wednesday afternoon when four teenage college students died on the spot and another sustained life-threatening injuries after being run over by an express train. The incident occurred along the railway section between Naupada and Tekkali stations near Burma Colony under Tekkali mandal. The victims, all 17-year-old first-year Intermediate (Class 11) students residing at the Government SC/ST Students’ Hostel in Tekkali, were walking across the tracks when the speeding train struck them.
Struck by Rajya Rani Express: Sequence of the Mishap
According to police and local revenue authorities, the five students had stepped out during the afternoon—as local junior colleges remained closed following heavy regional rainfall—and had reportedly walked toward nearby floodwaters and waterbodies. While returning to their hostel premises and traversing the tracks around 12:45 PM, the group failed to notice the incoming Rourkela–Gunupur Rajya Rani Express (Train No. 18117) approaching at high speed.
Due to inclement weather and poor visibility, the youngsters did not react in time to clear the rails. Four of the teenagers were killed on the spot due to the high-velocity impact, with body parts strewn across the track bed. A fifth student was flung to the side and suffered grievous polytrauma.
Identification of Victims and Treatment for Survivor
Local residents and passersby who witnessed the collision rushed to the site, alerted the police control room, and mobilized an emergency ambulance to shift the surviving youth to the Tekkali Government Hospital.
The deceased teenagers have been identified by police authorities as:
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Ganguvada Visakha Rao (17), native of Damara village, Tekkali mandal
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Janni Dileep Kumar (17), native of Damara village, Tekkali mandal
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Janni Sharat Kumar (17), native of Bhimpuram village, Tekkali mandal
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Savara Shiva (17), native of Meliaputti village
The injured student, identified as Ganguvada Salman Raju (18) of Damara village, remains in critical condition under specialized medical supervision.
Swift Emergency Response and Inquiry Ordered
Upon receiving the distress call, senior administrative officials—including Tekkali Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) Krishnamurthy, Srikakulam Superintendent of Police K.V. Maheswar Reddy, and teams from the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP)—rushed to the accident site. The railway administration mobilized the Self-Propelled Accident Relief Medical Equipment (SPARME) unit from Palasa to assist in clearing the track and recovering the bodies for post-mortem analysis. Srikakulam District Collector Swapnil Dinkar Pundkar instructed local police and revenue wings to prepare a comprehensive inquiry report establishing the exact sequence of events.
CM Chandrababu Naidu and Political Leaders Express Grief
The tragic demise of four young students sparked grief across the state. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep sorrow, terming the loss of young lives heart-wrenching. The Chief Minister instructed the district administration to ensure the best possible advanced critical care for the injured survivor and directed authorities to provide comprehensive financial and administrative assistance to the bereaved families.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, State Minister K. Atchannaidu, and YSRCP chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy also extended heartfelt condolences to the mourning families, demanding adequate compensation and calling for stricter track-monitoring mechanisms in populated educational corridors.
