At least 25 people were killed and 100 others were injured as eight coaches of the Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express derailed near Kuneru station in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh late Saturday night, officials said.

The incident took place around 11.20 p.m. when the train was going from Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh) to Odisha capital Bhubaneswar.

Engine and eight coaches, including two general coaches, two sleeper coaches and two AC coaches, derailed in the accident which occurred near Kuneru station, about 30 km from Rayagada in Odisha.

An official of East Cost Railway said one mobile train reached the accident site. The injured were shifted to hospitals nearby.

The rescue and relief operations were underway. The death toll is likely to go up.

As there was complete darkness at the accident site, it took time for authorities to launch rescue and relief operations.

Ministry of railways said four accident relief vans were rushed from different places. "All rescue and relief apparatus mobilised immediately," it tweeted.

Helplines numbers

Railways have set up helplines at various stations in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha to provide information about the accident.

The numbers for Vizianagaram are: 83331, 83332, 83333, 83334, 08922-221202, 08922-221206

Visakhapatnam: 83003, 83005, 83006, 0891-2746344, 0891-2746330, 08500358610, 08500358712

Rayagada: 06856-223400, 06856-223500, 09439741181, 09439741071, 07681878777

Khurda: 0674 2490670.

Bhubaneswar station: 06742543360.

Behrampur station: 06802229632