Samikhsya Bureau
At least seven people were killed and 29 others injured after 11 bogies of Jogbani-Anand Vihar Terminal Seemanchal Express derailed in Bihar’s Sahadai Buzurg in Vaishali district early on Sunday morning. The incident took place at 3:58 am after the train passed Mehnar Road station.
The Railways announced Rs.5 lakh ex-gratia to each of the next kin of the deceased.
East Central Railway chief public relations officer Rajesh Kumar confirmed the deaths. He said that the accident occurred after the coaches including sleeper and AC got derailed. A team of doctors rushed to the accident site from nearby areas of Sonpur and Barauni and the accident relief train was moved for carrying out relief and rescue operations, the CPRO added.
The death toll may rise as several passengers were still trapped inside the damaged compartments. The personnel of National Disaster Response Force also rushed to the spot for rescue operation.
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar condoled the death of passengers in the train mishap and directed district administration to carry out relief and rescue operation on war footing.
Vaishali district magistrate Rajiv Raushan said that windowpanes of the AC compartments were broken to rescue passengers. He said that the injured had been admitted to hospital. The district administration was extending full support to railway authorities to carry out relief and rescue operation at the site, he added.
Raushan said that arrangements were being made for onward journey of passengers aboard the train as they would be first taken to Hajipur through undamaged compartments of the train and also a DMU and later special arrangements would be made for their onward journey.
Railway officials said that prima facie rail fracture seemed to be the reason of the derailment. However, East Central Railway general manager Lalit Chandra Trivedi said that the commissioner of railway safety (CRS), Eastern Circle, Latif Khan, would conduct an inquiry into the derailment of the coaches.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish at the loss of lives following derailment of coaches of the Seemanchal Express in Bihar. “Deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to the derailment of coaches of the Seemanchal Express. My thoughts are with the bereaved families,” tweeted the Prime Minister, who is on a day long visit to Jammu and Kashmir.
The Prime Minister said that Railways, NDRF, and local authorities were providing all possible assistance in the wake of the accident, he said.
(With agency reports)
