ELEVEN PERSONS KILLED AND THIRTY EIGHT INJURED IN SECUNDERABAD-MANAMAD
TRAIN ACCIDENT
RESCUE AND RELIEF OPERATION
IN FULL SWING
RAILWAY MINISTER ANNOUNCES ENHANCED
EX-GRATIA PAYMENTS TO VICTIMS
In Bheed district
of Maharashtra, 7064 UP Secunderabad-Manmad Express on its way
to Manmad met with an accident early this morning at 1.30 a.m.
at Ghatnandur railway station on Parli-Vaijnath-Vikarabad
section under Secunderabad Division of South Central Railway.
The accident occurred when the Secunderabad-Manmad Express had
a rear collision with a goods train which was standing on the
same line at Ghatnandur station. Preliminary reports indicate
that the driver of the passenger train applied emergency brakes
in a bid to avert rear collision with the stationary goods train
and as a result, three coaches of the passenger train got derailed.
The derailed coaches include front passenger cum-luggage coach,
one general ordinary second class coach and one AC three tier
coach. According to reports reaching here, 11 passengers have
so far died and 38 injured. The injured have been admitted in
the Ambagoi hospital near Ghatnandur.
Massive rescue and
relief operation is in full swing and a senior railway officer
who was travelling in the ill fated train immediately initiated
the relief and rescue work. Road ambulance from Parli arrived
at the site within 45 minutes of the accident. Medical Relief
trains from Purna and Secunderabad alongwith accident relief trains
have also reached the site. General Manager, South Central Railway
and Divisional Railway Manager, Secunderabad Division and other
senior Railway and district officials are camping at the site
to supervise the rescue and relief operation.
The Railway Minister
Shri Nitish Kumar has expressed profound grief at the tragedy
and has conveyed his condolence to the bereaved families. The
Minister has also announced an enhanced amount of ex-gratia payments
to the victims. Accordingly an amount of Rs.1 lakh in case of
death, Rs.15,000 in case of grievous injury and Rs.5,000 in case
of simple injury will be paid. Shri Nitish Kumar while talking
to Media has pointed out that the prima-facie accident appeared
to be a result of human failure. He said that stern action would
be taken against railway staff found guilty . The Railway Minister
has instructed to provide immediate medical care to the injured.
If necessary, the injured could be airlifted too.
The Minister is in
constant touch with the accident site and monitoring rescue and
relief operation. Minister of State for Railways, Shri Bandaru
Dattatreya and Chairman, Railway Board and other senior officials
are on their way to the accident site.
A number of helplines
have been set up at various stations like Ghatnandur, Secunderabad,
Hyderabad, Manmad, Mumbai, Kacheguda, Parli, Jalna, Parbani, Aurangabad
and Bidar for giving information to the public. Details about
the accident are also being made available at South Central Railway
website http://www.scrailway.gov.in
A special train has left Secunderabad carrying well wishers and
relatives of the victims. The stranded passengers of the ill-fated
train have since been shifted from the accident site.
