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Sixteen Killed, 60 Injured in Indian Train Accident

Posted on: Monday, 3 October 2005, 06:00 CDT

Text of report by Indian news agency PTI

Datia (Madhya Pradesh), 3 October: At least 16 people were killed and over 60 injured on Monday [3 October] when Gwalior-bound Bundelkhand Express from Varanasi derailed apparently after failure of brakes and rammed into a signal cabin near the railway station here, about 300 kms from Bhopal, the capital of the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.

The engine and six bogies of the train were badly damaged after going off the track and ramming into the cabin, senior police and railway officials told reporters at the accident site.

Sixteen people have died and 60 were injured, they said adding the toll is likely to increase as some people are feared trapped in the mangled bogies.

The driver of the train, who was among the dead, is believed to have informed the authorities at Datia Railway Station about failure of brakes, officials said adding that the exact cause of the accident would, however, be known only after an inquiry.

Relief van and helpline services have been despatched from Jhansi division, they said adding the injured have been rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. Local residents have also joined in the rescue and relief operations.

India's Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, who is in Patna in the eastern Indian state of Bihar, announced an ex-gratia of Rs [rupees] 500,000 to the next of kin of those killed. He also said jobs would be given to one dependent of each of the deceased.

"Only a detailed inquiry by the commissioner of railway safety will ascertain the reason behind the tragedy," he said.

However, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Babulal Gaur alleged that the accident occurred as the driver was sleepy. He announced Rs 10,000 each for the families of those killed in the accident and Rs 2,500 each for the injured.

Lalu said he had been informed by officials that the train was travelling at a speed of 90 km per hour, much in excess of the 15 km per hour prescribed limit, on the loop line when the mishap took place.

Source: BBC Monitoring South Asia

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