29 killed in MP twin train derailment

Harda (MP), Aug 5

Twenty-nine people were killed when two express trains passing each other derailed while crossing a railway bridge struck by flash floods in Harda district of Madhya Pradesh in the dead of night sending 17 bogies and one engine tumbling into a rain-swollen river.

The twin derailment that occurred at around the same time at about 11.30 pm last night involved the Varanasi-bound Kamayani Express from Mumbai, which capsized first, and the Mumbai-bound Janta express originating from Patna that was coming from the opposite direction.

 Officials said that 25 people were injured and over 250 passengers have been rescued.

There were conflicting versions on the exact number of casualties in the accident that occurred between Khirkiya and Bhirangi stations on Khandwa-Itarsi sections, 160 km from Bhopal after the 500-metre rail tracks over a small bridge sank in sudden surge of water caused by heavy rains in the area.

"Twenty-nine bodies, including those of 13 men, 11 women and five children, have been recovered so far from the mishap site, about 160 km from Bhopal," MP Government spokesman Anupam Rajan said.

 Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, however, told Parliament that data available so far showed 12 passengers were killed. Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Bhopal, Alok Kumar also put the figure at 12 — 11 passengers of Janta Express and one from Kamayani Express.

 However, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said pegged the dead at 25 and injured at 50. Twelve bodies were found inside the derailed train bogies, he told reporters at the site of the accident.

Prabhu said Machak river has overflowed due to rains, submerging part of the rail-tracks.

"The prima facie cause of the incident is stated to be 'flash flood due to heavy rains'," Prabhu told the Rajya Sabha amid the din by slogan-shouting opposition members.

Passengers said they were jolted awake when their falling coaches hit the water, which quickly filled them.

"We felt the jerk instantly. When we opened the door and checked, there was water everywhere. In no time, the train tilted. And we all got trapped and were stuck for three hours," a survivor said.

"The water level on the track was almost waist-high," said another survivor.

 A PTI correspondent on the site saw some coaches fallen to one side and others stuck in the slush. Tracks were broken, uprooted and scattered, and a detached train wheel lay on one side.

 Although the MP government said that 21 coaches of the two trains derailed, Alok Kumar said seven bogies of the Janta Express plus engine and 10 of Kamayani Express had derailed.

The Railway Ministry has ordered an inquiry into the accident and announced an enhanced ex-gratia of Rs two lakh each to the families of those who died.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident unfortunate and condoled the death of the 29 victims. 

Services of more than 50 trains were affected by the accident; with many being diverted or short-terminated.

The 500-metre rail track that caved in not among the vulnerable sections identified by the Railways during its pre-monsoon survey, a top Railway official said.

Railways survey tracks to identify vulnerable sections before monsoon every year, "One cannot rule out natural calamity and the flash flood caused extensive damage to the track which resulted in the derailment. The track was otherwise alright and two trains crossed the track just eight minutes before the incident," Chairman Railway Board (CRB) A K Mital said in Delhi, ruling out defect in the bridge.

He did, however, admit that there were reports of overflowing dams near the site of the accident. — PTI