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Passenger Train Derails in South India, Killing 100

Posted on: Sunday, 30 October 2005, 09:00 CST

Passenger train derails in south India, killing 100

New DELHI, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- At least 100 people were killed when a passenger train derailed and fell into an overflowing rivulet Saturday in Nalgonda district of Andhra Pradesh in south India, Indo- Asian News Service reported.

Rescue and relief workers said 100 bodies were pulled out from seven compartments of the Repalle-Secunderabad Delta Passenger Fast train, which derailed near Veligonda, about 80 km east of Hyderabad, capital of Andhra Pradesh.

The Indian army joined the personnel of paramilitary Rapid Action Force, Railway Protection Force, fire brigade personnel in rescue and relief operations.

The engine and seven compartments of the train jumped the tracks over Golapalli bridge and fell into overflowing rivulet around 4:20 a.m. when a majority of the 1,000 passengers were asleep.

Thomas Verghese, general manager of South Central Railway, confirmed Saturday night that 90 bodies were recovered. He said more than 100 people injured in the accident were shifted to Nalgonda and Secunderabad.

However, Brigadier Chopra, leading the army's rescue teams, said 100 bodies were recovered.

He said the army teams are suspending rescue work due to lack of proper lighting in the area. They will resume rescue work Sunday morning and are likely to be joined by Navy divers from Visakhapatnam. He said some more bodies could be still inside the mangled compartments or in the rivulet.

Minister of State for Railways R. Velu, who visited the accident site along with Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, said no human error or negligence had led to the accident.

"It happened due to natural calamity. Heavy rains and flood water had washed away a part of the tracks," he said.

Two helicopters of the Indian Army airlifted many trapped passengers from the submerged compartments.

More than 400 people have been rescued from the affected compartments and sent to Nalgonda, Guntur, Secunderabad and other destinations through special trains and buses. Rescue workers said 700 passengers were sent to various destinations through trains and buses.

Wailing relatives of passengers rushed from Secunderabad and Guntur. Some of them had lost their entire families in the mishap.

Railway Board Chairman J.P. Batra said the engine and 10 coaches were partially submerged after water from a reservoir flooded the tracks.

Source: Xinhua News Agency - CEIS

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