On Sunday, March 30, 2025, a significant railway mishap unfolded near Nergundi Railway Station in Odisha’s Cuttack district when the SMVT Bengaluru-Kamakhya AC Superfast Express derailed, leaving seven passengers injured. The incident occurred at 11:54 AM, with 11 AC coaches of the 12551 Kamakhya Superfast Express veering off the tracks as the train journeyed from Bengaluru to Kamakhya station in Assam’s Guwahati. According to officials from the East Coast Railway, emergency response teams were swiftly mobilized, including an accident relief train and medical equipment to assist the affected passengers. Odisha Fire Service Director-General Sudhansu Sarangi reported that the injured were promptly rescued and transported to a nearby hospital, assuring that the total number of injuries is unlikely to exceed 10. The rapid deployment of rescue personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Odisha Fire Service, alongside railway officials, underscored the urgency of the situation as operations continued to stabilize the scene.
The derailment has prompted a robust response from railway authorities to ensure passenger safety and restore normalcy to the affected rail line. East Coast Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Ashok Kumar Mishra, confirmed that a relief train was dispatched to the site, and efforts were underway to assist stranded passengers in reaching their destinations. “Arrangements are being made to help the affected passengers reach their destinations. Our priority is to restore the line at the earliest, and accordingly, other trains will be diverted,” Mishra stated. The incident disrupted regional rail traffic, leading to the rerouting of three trains—Dhauli Express, Neelachal Express, and Purulia Express—while helpline numbers (8455885999 and 8991124238) were activated to provide assistance. Despite initial reports from the railway claiming no injuries, the confirmed count of seven injured passengers highlighted the severity of the derailment, though all individuals on board were reported safe overall, averting a potentially worse outcome.
The broader implications of this accident have sparked concerns about railway safety and infrastructure resilience in India, particularly along busy routes like the Bengaluru-Guwahati corridor. As rescue operations wind down, attention is shifting toward the investigation of the derailment’s cause, which remains unclear at this stage. The Economic Times reported that the Kamakhya Express accident has drawn significant attention, with agencies and railway officials working in tandem to address both immediate needs and longer-term solutions. For passengers affected by the disruption, the railway’s proactive measures—such as rerouting trains and providing helpline support—aim to mitigate inconvenience, though the incident serves as a reminder of the challenges inherent in maintaining one of the world’s largest rail networks. With restoration efforts underway, officials are optimistic about resuming normal operations soon, while the injured recover and the investigation seeks to prevent future occurrences of this nature.
