52 killed, 150 injured in Bengal train accident
Sainthia (West Bengal): At least 52 passengers were killed and over 150 injured when the speeding Sealdah-bound Uttarbanga Express rammed into the rear of the Vananchal Express pulling out of the Sainthia station in Birbhum district early Monday.
Eastern Railway sources in Kolkata said that 49 passengers of the Vananchal Express were killed when the Uttarbanga Express, which was running at a high speed overshot the signal and ploughed into it. Among the dead were 39 men, eight women and two babies, the sources said.
Officials feared that the toll could rise as three coaches, two unreserved and a luggage van, of the Vananchal Express, which was running five hours late, were smashed with some of the coaches mounting a foot overbridge. GRP sources said that 150 passengers were injured. Superintendent of PoliceHumayun Kabir, however, said that 130 passengers were injured. The accident occurred at 1:54 am when the New Coochbehar-Sealdah Uttarbanga Express came on the same track and rammed into the Bhagalpur-Ranchi Vananchal Express which was leaving platform number four at Sainthia station, 191 km from Kolkata, Eastern Railway sources said.
The engine of the Uttarbanga Express, which was to stop at the station, telescoped into the rear of the Vananchal Express. Engine driver M C Dey and assistant driver N K Mandal of the Uttarbanga Express besides the guard of the Vananchal Express A Mukherjee were killed, the sources said. Dey was found dead in his seat. The engine was switched off after an hour by railwaymen.
Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, Chairman of Railway Board Vivek Sahay, Railway Board Member (Electrical) Sudesh Kumar and Director General of Railway Health Service B K Ramteke, Eastern RailwayGeneral Manager V N Tripathy and other senior officials have left for Sainthia. Relief trains from Rampurhat, Asansol and Burdwan have left for the accident spot.
The diesel engine of the Uttarbanga Express was also smashed and the body of the driver could be seen seated at his place. Eastern Railway sources in Kolkata confirmed that the driver of the Uttarbanga Express and the guard of the Vananchal Express were killed in the accident. At least one body was seen on the roof of the Uttarbanga Express.
Injured passengers were being taken to hospitals in Sainthia, and Suri, the district headquarter town. According to V N Tripathy, GM Eastern Railways, the cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained.
Samir Goswami, CPRO, Eastern Railways has told CNN-IBN that senior officers have reached the location and are supervising the operation. Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has already left for the accident site.
The sources said the up line was clear and no train on that route has yet been cancelled.
Eastern Railway has opened control rooms following the accident. The stations and their phone numbers are Sealdah (033-23503535, 033-23503537), Malda (06436-222061), Bhagalpur (06412-4222433), Jamalpur (063444-3101) Relief trains from Rampurhat, Asansol and Burdwan have left for the accident spot, about 191 km from Kolkata. Eastern Railway General Manager V N Tripathy and other senior officials have also left for Sainthia.
Control Room Numbers:
Sealdah: (033-23503535, 033-23503537)
Malda: (06436-222061)
Bhagalpur: (06412-4222433)
Jamalpur: (063444-3101)
Ranchi: (0651-2461404, 0651-2460488, 0651-26002634, 0651-2600263)
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