At least 17 people were killed and 90 injured when the Bangalore Express from Hyderabad derailed at Ramalingaipalli village in Andhra Pradesh's Anantpur district in the early hours on Saturday.

According to South Central Railway (SCR) officials, the Bangalore bound express train (No 7685) derailed at around 0040 hours (IST) between Pidugurai and Pendekallu railway stations about 15 kilometres near Gooty town in Andhra Pradesh. The train had left Kachiguda station, Hyderabad, at 1900 IST on Friday night.

Bangalore railway authorities have confirmed the injured toll. While 16 bodies have been recovered from the accident site, one person died while being taken to the hospital.

The engine and two bogies of the train derailed first, following which seven other bogies overturned. Bangalore control room officials said S-1, S-2, S-3, S-4, S-6, S-14 and SL compartments had tipped over.

Most of the bodies have been recovered from S-1 coach, which was nearest to the engine. Minister of State for Railways Bandaru Dattatraya said the train was travelling at 90 km per hour.

Joint police teams of Kurnool and Anantapur districts were engaged in rescue operations.

On receipt of information, SCR general manager and senior officials rushed to the spot, located in Guntakal division, about 400 kms south of Hyderabad, with medical and emergency teams to organise relief and rescue operations.

Andhra Pradesh Technical Education Minister N Anjaneyulu, who was travelling in the train, is safe, the police said.

Railway authorities in both Bangalore and Hyderabad have despatched relief trains to the accident site.

Secunderabad Control Room: 040-27786950
Bangalore Railway Helpline: 080-2876288, 080-2203269, 080-2876288, 2874544
Pendekallu Helpline: 08520-277500
                                         
LIST OF DEAD
A Venkatanarayanan (55)

LIST OF INJURED
Bhaskar Reddy
Vinay Prasad
Khalid
Adiyappa
Chand Basu