Sabotage cannot be ruled out in the derailment of an Odisha - bound train in Andhra Pradesh as the area is a Maoist stronghold, a railway official said on Sunday.
At least 27 persons were killed and over 50 others injured when the Jagdalpur - Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express derailed on Saturday night near Kuneru station in Vizianagaram district.
"Sabotage is not ruled out as the area where the derailment happened was a Maoist area, " the official told IANS.
The railways have announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for the nearest kin of those who died and Rs 50, 000 for those injured, Chief Public Relations officer Anil Saxena said.