RailEnquiry

Khagaria (Bihar):
Thirtyseven pilgrims, including women and children standing on rail tracks, were killed when a speeding express train ploughed into them today in Bihar's Khagaria district, triggering angry protests by locals who attacked train drivers, set ablaze a coach and vandalised the station.‘Kanwarias’ or devotees of Lord Shiva were walking along the tracks at Dhamara Ghat station after alighting from the Samastipur-Saharsa passenger when the Saharsa-Patna Rajyarani Express travelling at 80 kmph, ran over them, a senior railway official said. Khagaria is about 160 km from Patna.Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that 37 persons, including women and children, were killed. Among them were 13 women, four children and 20 men. The victims hailed from Khagaria, Sahrsa, Munger and Naughachia. Twentyfour others, who sustained injuries, were admitted to the hospital here.

Soon after the incident at 8.40 am, a violent mob assaulted the train driver, set on fire an AC compartment and engine of another train, vandalised the station and even held a few rail staff hostage.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Chief Minister appealed for calm.

Railway Board Chairman Arunendra Kumar said the express was not supposed to halt at Dhamara Ghat and was given clearance to pass through, but the pilgrims on the tracks thought they could stop the train.

Though the driver applied the emergency brakes, it was too late by then, he said, adding an internal inquiry has been ordered into the accident. The pilgrims were going to nearby Katyani Sthan temple to offer ‘jalabhishek’ to Lord Shiva on the fourth and final Monday of the holy month of Shrawan.

Superintendent of Police S K Jha said the engine of the Samastipur-Saharsa passenger train and an AC coach of Saharsa-Patna Rajyarani Express were set on fire by enraged local people.

The two drivers of the express train, Rajaram Paswan and Sushil Kumar Suman, fled from the spot after being attacked. They later contacted railway officials to informing them that they were safe, ECR CPRO Amitabh Prabhakar said.

The Prime Minister “appealed for calm in the area so that the relief and rescue operations can be carried out without any hindrance,” a statement by PMO said.

The Prime Minister has directed the Railway Ministry to deploy all available resources for rescue and relief operations, it said.

Minister of state for Railways Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the express was travelling at a speed of 80 km per hour when the accident occurred.

He said although relief trains carrying doctors and nurses were sent from Saharsha and Barauni, they could not reach the spot as the law and order situation there was not conducive because of protests by angry people.

The Bihar Chief Minister announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for family of each of the deceased and free medical treatment for the injured.

He ruled out lapse by the state administration. He said he had talked to Railway minister Malliarjun Kharge and urged him to provide the maximum compensation to victims considering the fact that "this is a rarest of rare incident". — PTI

Brakes applied too late

* The train was not supposed to halt at Dhamara Ghat and was given clearance to pass through

* The pilgrims on the tracks thought they could stop the train

* Though the driver applied the emergency brakes, it was too late

* An internal inquiry has been ordered into the accident

Compensation announced

* Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the family of each of the deceased

* Says an inquiry by a railway safety commissioner would be conducted

* Ruled out lapse by the state administration

* Has urged Railway Minister Malliarjun Kharge to provide the maximum compensation to victims considering the fact that “this is a rarest of the rare incidents”

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