Bangalore-Nanded train tragedy: Survivors recount horror

Updated

Anantapur (AP), Dec 28 (PTI): A pall of gloom descended over Kothacheruvu, a sleepy village in Anantapur district where 26 passengers were killed today after an AC coach of Bangalore-Nanded train caught fire even as those who escaped the jaws of death recounted the travel horror.

65 passengers were travelling in the coach as fire broke out around 3.35 am between Sri Satya Sai Prashanti Nilayam and Basampalle stations on Bangalore division of South Western Railway when most of them were asleep.

Though as many as 39 of them were lucky as they manage alight on time, some of them lost their loved ones on board.

Charan, a resident of Bangalore saved 20 other passengers from the bogie even as his wife and father-in-law could not escape, N Raghuveera Reddy AP Minister for Revenue rpt Revenue who hails from the district said.

Ramamurthy, one of the passengers who escaped from the clutches of death, said he suddenly woke up as smoke and fire engulfed the compartment and tried to reach the door.

"I saw many people struggling to get down from the moving train through the door. After some time the train stopped," said Ramamurthy from Mysore, who had boarded the train from Bangalore towards Mantralayam.

Another passenger undergoing treatment at one of the hospitals said he broke open the window-pane to let the air circulate as people could not breathe due to heavy smoke in the compartment.

One of the relatives of the deceased said he got a phone call from his brother at 3.30 am saying that the AC bogie in which he along with parents, sister and brother-in-law were travelling had caught fire.

According to the phone call from my brother, there are was no trace of our father and sister, he said adding “We wanted them to travel comfortably that's why booked tickets in an AC coach. We saw them (Brother, father, mother, sister and her husband) off at Bangalore railway station.

"I got a phone call at 3.40 am my saying that the bogie caught fire and my brother, brother-in-law and mother escaped by breaking the window pane. We do not know about my father and sister," the grieving kin said.

Dr C Ramasubbarao, DM and HO of Anantapur said they have completed post mortem of bodies, and femur (thighbone) of the deceased would be preserved for DNA tests as some of the bodies were charred beyond recognition.

"Bodies will be sent to Victoria Hospital in Bangalore for preservation. DNA tests may take 3 to 4 days," the official told PTI.

Anantapur SP Senthil Kumar said so far 8 bodies have been identified.

Earlier Update

Bangalore-Nanded train mishap: Toll mounts to 26

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Update

Bangalore, Dec 28: The number of people killed in the Bangalore-Nanded Express, when its three-tier air-conditioned bogie caught fire in the early hours of Saturday, at Kothacheruvu near Puttaparthy in Anantpur district of Andhra Pradesh is officially put at 26.
 
Several more passengers suffered serious injuries while the 26 persons were charred to death.

The Ananthpur district administration led by the District Collector Lokesh Kumar swung into action on learning about the incident and is carrying relief and rescue operations, according to the District Public Relations Officer Thimmappa.

The Minister for Revenue of Andhra Raghuveera Reddy, who is also personally the relief and rescue operations, has appealed to the relatives the passengers not to rush to the accident spot, as arrangements have already been made to shift the bodies to Bangalore.

The minister said bodies will be sent to Victoria Hospital Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital in Bangalore.

Raghuveera Reddy has said that as most of bodies are beyond recognition, they could be only after conducting Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA ) TestThe bodies will later be handed over to the relatives at Bangalore.

The Minister has asked the relatives to contact Helpline established by the South Western Railways know about the deceased and injured passengers.


Helpline

Helpline Numbers at Bangalore are : 080 - 22259271.
Helpline established at Collectorate at Ananthpur : 08554 275 811.

Compensation

The Union Minister for Railways M Mallikarjuna has termed the incident as most unfortunate and announced a compensation of Rs 5 Lakh to the kin of the deceased families,

He has also ordered for an inquiry the incident, says a report from Gulbarga.

The Union Minister of State for Kotla Jayasurya Prakash Reddy visited the accident site. He said a compensation of Rs One Lakh will be given seriously injured and Rs 50,000 to passengers with minor injuries.

CM Expresses Shock

The Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has shock over the incident.

Such incidents should not recur, the chief minister added.

Mobile number of Thimmappa, district public relations officer, department of information and public relations, government of Andhra Pradesh, Ananthpur - 099493 51632.

Earlier Report

Nanded-Bangalore express catches fire, at least 23 killed

Bangalore, Dec 28 (PTI): At least 23 people, including two children, were charred to death when an AC coach of Nanded-Bangalore Express caught fire in the district early today.

The fire broke out at 3:30 AM at Kothacheravu railway station between Pennukonda and Dharmavaram stations.

"Rescue operations are underway. 23 persons including two children were charred to death in the accident,", District Collector, Anantapur, Lokesh Kumar told reporters.

Senior Railway officials have rushed to the spot and relief and medical team have been pressed into service, the collector said.

Railway officials suspect that the incident occurred due to a short-circuit.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has expressed shock and grief over the loss of lives in the fire accident.

He also spoke to Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge and inquired about the steps being taken for rescue and relief work at the accident site.

Describing the incident as "tragic" and "most unfortunate", Kharge ordered an enquiry into the incident by Commissioner of Railway Safety.

The Railway Minister announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased, Rs 1 lakh in case of grievous injuries and Rs 50,000 for simple injuries.

He has also asked senior railway officials such as Member Electrical and Director General Health to rush to the spot.

Chairman, Railway Board, Arunendra Kumar said the reason behind the accident is yet to be ascertained.

However, prima facie there could be two reasons - one is short circuit and the other presence of inflammable material.

The magnitude of the accident suggests that short circuit was unlikely, he said.

Asked whether it could be inflammable material, he said it could be and the inquiry would go into it.

"We have asked for forensic experts from Bangalore and Hyderabad to examine the site," he said.

The Railway Minister and the Railway Board Chairman are rushing to the site.

The affected coach has been detached and train has resumed its onward journey.

The Railways have also set up helpline numbers to disseminate latest information to passengers and family members of the affected.

The Bangalore numbers are -- 080 22354108, 080 22259271, 080 22156551 and 080 22156554.

Helpline at SSP Nilayam station are -- 085 552 80125 and 097 31666863.