9 killed, 18 seriously injured in train accident

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Anekal (Karnataka), February 13

Nine passengers were killed and 18 seriously injured when nine bogies of Bangalore-Ernakulam Inter-city Express derailed near Anekal, 45 km from Bengaluru, on Friday after the train hit a boulder that fell on the track.

The daily train derailed at 07.35 am, nearly 80 minutes after it left Bengaluru, between Anekal Road and Hosur on Bangalore City-Salem Section on the border of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Railway and police officials said.

Five men, three women and a nine- year-old died in the accident, divisional railway manager Anil Kumar Agarwal told reporters at the accident site, adding rescue and relief operation involved teams from railway, police, fire brigade and National Disaster Response Force.

Soon after the mishap, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said in a tweet that a boulder fell on the track and the train hit it. "Prima-facie cause of the derailment was a boulder on the track," an official statement said.

Agarwal said the engine driver had told authorities that he heard a rumbling sound of a boulder.

Prabhu, who had announced he would rush to the accident spot, did not do so but only visited the injured at a private hospital on Bengaluru outskirts and flew back.

"I am on way to Bangalore to visit accident site to help all stranded...," Prabhu had tweeted earlier.

He announced an inquiry "to fix responsibility" and a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased,

Rs 50,000 for the severely injured and Rs 20,000 for those with simple injuries.

Commissioner Railway Safety S K Mittal will conduct an inquiry into the mishap.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of nine passengers, tweeting, "Saddened by the loss of lives due to derailing of Bangalore-Ernakulam Express. Condolences to the families of the deceased.”