At least 27 killed in Madhya Pradesh twin train derailment
BHOPAL: Several people were killed after seven coaches of the Kamayani Express and five bogies of the Mumbai-Jabalpur Janata Express derailed while crossing a swollen Machak river near Harda in Madhya Pradesh late Tuesday night. Here are the live updates:
Indian Railways helpline numbers: 05422503814, 62733 .Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan will visit the spot of twin train derailment incident later today.According to ANI that the death toll has risen to 27 including 11 females, 11 males and 5 children.
“We are providing all possible medical assistance at the site. Medical teams from various cities have been rushed in to assist in relief and rescue operations,” says Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
“We are closely working with Railway administration in relief and rescue operations. District Magistrate along with senior officers is at the site,” adds Chouhan.
“Kamayani Express from Mumbai to Varanasi, Janata Express towards Mumbai was passing 20 kilometres from Harda near a bridge. Ten minutes back at this spot train movement was normal, there was no problem. It appears suddenly flash flood came in 10 minutes’ time which resulted in disturbance of track and consequently the derailment of two trains,” says AK Mittal, Railway Board Chairman.
Rescue and relief are almost complete, still a team conducting search operation to see if anyone is still trapped, says Railway PRO Anil Saxena.Railway PRO Anil Saxena says an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh has been announced for the family of deceased; Rs 50,000 will be paid to critically injured and Rs 25,000 to injured.
Railway PRO Anil Saxena says 12 people have been killed in the train accident while 25 are injured. According to sources , 24 people have died in the mishap.
Medical teams are at the spot, Railway administration is conducting relief and rescue operation, says MoS Railways Manoj Sinha.
Union Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu says an inquiry has been ordered into the derailment of trains. “An inquiry has been ordered. Flooding of tracks due to very heavy downpour caused the accident,” Prabhu says. “I will make a detailed statement in Parliament today. Ex-gratia will be paid immediately,” he adds.
“I don’t consider it an accident. Accident is something which can’t be avoided, but this could’ve been avoided,” says former Railway minister Dinesh Trivedi.Indian Railways has issued two helpline numbers: 05422503814, 62733
NDRF personnel involved in the rescue operations are carrying technical equipment that can be used to cut bogies to free trapped people.One battalion of the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) from Bhopal and an Army unit stationed in Mhow were pressed into service to carry out rescue operations at the accident site.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed distress and pain over the loss of lives in twin train accident in Madhya Pradesh. Modi said authorities are doing everything possible on the ground.
“The two train accidents in Madhya Pradesh are deeply distressing. Deeply pained over the loss of lives. Condolences to families of deceased,” Modi tweeted. “My prayers with the injured. Authorities are doing everything possible on the ground. The situation is being monitored very closely,” Modi said in another tweet.
The accident relief train has reached the spot and several passengers have been brought to a nearby station, Railway Board member (traffic) Kundan Sinha informs.
An inquiry has been ordered into the twin train mishap in Harda. The probe will be conducted by Commissioner, Railway Safety (central zone).Railway Board member (traffic) Kundan Sinha says the tracks have been breached because of the flow of excessive water and the particular section has been closed for any train movement.
Railways today said the sudden flow of water on the tracks caused the derailment of the two trains while they were crossing the swollen Machak river near Harda in Madhya Pradesh. According to reports, there was a possible burst in a nearby dam which caused sudden flow of water on the tracks and that resulted in the derailment,” Railway Board Chairman A K Mittal said.
Mittal said the Railways will enquire into the two derailments. “We will call for an inquiry into the incidents and will also take remedial measures to prevent such incidents in future,” he said.
The death toll in the Harda train mishap has now risen to 24 with at least 25 other people injured. The mishap took place after seven coaches of the Kamayani Express and five bogies of the Mumbai-Jabalpur Janata Express derailed while crossing a swollen Machak river near Harda late last night.
Twenty four bodies, including nine men, 10 women and five kids, have been recovered so far from the mishap site between Khirkiya and Bhirangi stations near Harda, Madhya Pradesh Public Relation Department Commissioner Anupam Rajan told Reporters today.
Officials fear the death toll could further go up.
According to West Central Railway PRO Piyush Mathur, seven coaches of Kamayani Express and five bogies plus the engine of Janata Express were derailed late last night as the base material on the tracks got washed away.
“The mishap took place around 11.30 pm on Tuesday as base material of the tracks got washed away in heavy rains,” Mathur said.
Divisional Commercial Railway Manager (DCRM) Brajendra Kumar said that search operation has been launched in nearby areas to find people who might have got washed away in heavy floods.
Bhopal Railway PRO said that over 250 passengers have been rescued so far.A passenger of Kamayni Express, Akhilesh Pratap Singh, told PTI that he along with over 150 passengers, travelling in the general class coach, were stranded on a hilltop to save themselves.
The accident relief train has reached the spot and several passengers have been brought to a nearby station.Kamayani Express enroute to Varanasi from Mumbai derailed near Harda, about 160 kms from Bhopal, and the Mumbai-Jabalpur Janata Express derailed around 11.30 pm late last night.
