Train derails near Mumbai
At least 20 killed, 100 more injured
PTI, Mumbai
At least 20 people were killed and 100 others were injured when the engine and eight bogies of Mangalore-Mumbai Matsyagandha Express derailed over a bridge between Veer and Karanjadi stations, about 200 km from Mumbai yesterday. "Twenty people have been killed and 100 injured in the accident," Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav told reporters in Kolkata. The Railway Minister, who was in Kolkata in connection with an official programme, cancelled his engagements and was rushing to the accident site along with Railway Board members to personally supervise the relief and rescue work. Laloo said that in case 'negligence' was found to be the cause of the mishap, strict action would be taken against the guilty. "We want to see whether precautions had been taken in the area which is a remote hilly region," he said. Laloo said that heavy rains in the area apparently led to landslide which caused the accident. D Raja Ram, General Manager, Konkan Railways, who was on his way to the mishap spot, said "the accident occurred at around 6.00 am when the locomotive jumped the rails and fell into a riverbed". Earlier reports had put the figure of dead at 25. There has been downpour in the area in the last few days and bad weather could be one of the reasons for the accident, Railways officials said. Rescue teams and equipment have been rushed by the Konkan Railways to the site. Officials said some boulders had fallen on the tracks due to downpour in the area, which might be one of reasons for the derailment. Konkan Railways Controller Baban Ghatge said a relief train has left for Raigad from Goa. A helpline on 0832-2703950 has been set at Madgaon. Last year nearly 50 people were killed after boulders hit a train following heavy rains near Ratnagiri in Maharashtra. Railways Minister Lalu Prasad has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs one lakh to the next of the kin of those killed in Matsyagandha Express derailment in Maharashtra and and Rs 25,000 to the seriously injured. A spokesman said that he also ordered an inquiry by the Commissioner of Railway Safety, Western Railway, into the accident. Meanwhile Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed "deep shock-" over loss of lives in the Matsyagandha train accident Wednesday and said he has issued instructions to the Railway Ministry to provide all necessary assistance to the affected people. "I am deeply shocked to learn of the unfortunate Matsyagandha train accident today in which precious lives have been lost and a large number of people have been injured," he said in a statement.
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