Shivpuri (MP): Twentythree people were
killed and 51 injured when a goods train hit the stationary
Indore-Gwalior Intercity Express head-on in Madhya Pradesh
after it overshot the signal amid heavy rains and poor
visibility in the early hours on Monday.
The accident took place around 4.45 am when the freight
train of North-Central Railway was on the wrong track and hit
the stationary passenger train on the front at Badarwas
station, Shivpuri Collector Rajkumar Pathak told PTI. The
station in Shivpuri district is about 50 kms from the nearest
town of Guna.
Railway Board officials said 17 of the 23 victims have
been identified and efforts were on to identify the remaining
nine. The officials said a preliminary inquiry showed that the
good trains driver had overshot the red signal.
Just before the mishap, the goods train driver
jumped off from the locomotive and fled, Pathak said.
Both the drivers of the Intercity train are said to
be safe.
Of the 51 people injured, 29 were admitted to hospitals
in Guna and Shivpuri while remaining were discharged after
first-aid, officials said.
Two front bogies of the Express Train have been badly
damaged in the accident, Pathak said.
Rajendra Karare, The station master of Badarwas, who had
apparently fled the scene after the accident, has now been
traced and his blood sample has been taken to ascertain
reports that liquor bottles were found in his chamber, sources
said.
Bhopal Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Ghanshyam Singh
said that an inquiry had been ordered into the accident,
adding action would be taken against those found guilty after
the receipt of the inquiry report.
He said 22 bodies have been extricated from the mangled
bogies while a seriously injured died on way to hospital.
Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced an
ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the next kin of the dead, Rs 1 lakh
and Rs 50,000 for those with serious and minor injuries
respectively.
Besides announcing monetary compensation, the
government has also promised jobs to the next of the kin of
those killed in the mishap.
Minister of State for Railways K H Muniyappa rushed to
the accident site along with senior railway officials.
Relief trains from neighbouring Bhopal, Guna and Bina
have reached the spot, he said, adding relief and rescue
operations were being carried out on a war footing.
Madhya Pradesh Governor Rameshwar Thakur and Chief
Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan have expressed grief over the
accident and conveyed their condolences to the families.
Meanwhile, the BJP has cancelled the "Balram Samman
Samaroh" scheduled for tomorrow in view of the accident.
Congress leaders Digvijay Singh and Ajay Singh have
also expressed grief over the accident in separate statements.
PTI
