DEATH TOLL IN TRAIN-BUS COLLISION IN ETAH DISTRICT RISES TO 44
RESPONSIBILITY WILL
BE FIXED EVEN AT HIGHER LEVEL SAYS RAILWAY MINISTER
ENHANCED EX-GRATIA PAYMENT ANNOUNCED
FOR THE VICTIMS
The death toll in the accident
involving Kanpur-Kasganj Express and a private bus in Etah district
of Uttar Pradesh has risen to fortyfour. The accident took place
when 5301 Kanpur-Kasganj Express on its way to Kasganj dashed
a private bus at a manned level crossing between Sahawar Town
and Badari Kalan stations in Fatehgarh-Kasganj metre gauge section
in Etah district of Uttar Pradesh under Izatnagar Division of
Northeastern Railway, yesterday. Twenty injured persons are undergoing
treatment at hospitals in Sahwar Town, Kasganj, Agra, Aligarh
and Etah.The senior railway officials who reached the accident
site included Member Traffic, Railway Board; General Manager,
Northeastern; Additional General Manager, Northern Railway; Divisional
Railway Manager, Izatnagar. The official visited the victims at
hospitals also. The affected track has since been restored fully
for the traffic.
Regarding the cause of accident, prima-face,
it seems that the gate of level crossing was in open condition
when the train was passing through it. The final findings about
the accident will be known only after the enquiry. Commissioner
of Railway Safety, NE Railway who reached the site yesterday has
begun enquiry into the accident.
The Railway Minister, Shri Nitish Kumar has said
that after the inquiry, the responsibility will be fixed even
at higher level for their lapses if any, for this accident.
The Railway Minister had also announced an enhanced
amount, as a special case, for making ex-gratia payment of Rs.15,000/-
each to the next of kin of those killed, Rs.5,000/- each to grievously
injured and Rs.500/- each to those with simple injury. The ex-gratia
amounts have been increased from the normal payments of Rs.6000/-,
2,500/- and nil amount respectively in case of such manned level
crossing accidents. The Minister has expressed profound grief
over the tragic deaths of bus passengers.
