Kolkata, Sept 11: A series of cracking sounds stunned passengers of the ill-fated Rajdhani Express out of their sleep as several bogies shook violently before going off the tracks while crossing the bridge over Dhave River, survivors recounted early today. "Then I had a feeling that my bogie was turning upside down. Power supply suddenly snapped amidst people shrieking and wailing all around," said S N Chatterjee of Kadamtala, Howrah, with horror writ large on his face. Chatterjee, who was injured in the incident, said he somehow managed to come out of the A-5 compartment of the train.

"It was the most horrific experience of my life, but what matters to me most is that I am still alive," Chatterjee said as his relieved relatives took him home from Howrah Station after he arrived in a special train shortly after 2 am. "I was woken by a series of cracking sounds. Don't know how I came out," said Chandan Das of Nagerbazar, North 24 Parganas district, a passenger in the worst-hit as1 coach.

Yet to get over the shock, he spoke disjointedly about the ghastly sight he witnessed once he extricated himself. "Charidike Shudhu Domrano Mochrano Lash Aar Lash (there were only mangled deadbodies all around)."
"I think very few of the passengers in my coach escaped the clutches of death," said Das, who was proceeding to Delhi in AS-1 to collect his visa for Ireland.

Bureau Report