As at 6.00 pm
As per the latest
reports reaching Rail Headquarters, eighteen passengers have been
killed and another 41 injured in the accident involving 7064-Secunderabad-Manmad
Express at Ghatnandur railway station of Secunderabad Division
of South Central Railway early morning, today. Railways have airlifted
two seriously injured children to Secunderabad and they have been
admitted to Nizam Institute of Medical Science. Thirty nine of
the injured passengers are undergoing treatment at Ambagoi hospital
near Ghatnandur, Bheed district of Maharashtra. Preliminary reports
indicate that the accident occured when the driver of the passenger
train applied emergency brakes to avoid collision with the goods
train stationed on the same track. The derailed coaches include
front passenger-cum-luggage coach, one general second class coach
and one AC three tier coach.
Commissioner of Railway
Safety, South Central Circle, Ministry of Civil Aviation who has
already reached the accident site will be commencing inquiry from
5th of this month. Regular traffic on the affected
line will be restored by tonight. 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.
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.
The Railway Minister is in constant touch with the accident site
and Minister of State for Railways, Shri Bandaru Dattatreya and
Chairman, Railway Board and other senior officials have already
reached 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
