Toll mounts to 52, rescue work called off

By R. Madhavan Nair

KOZHIKODE, JUNE 23. The toll in the accident involving the Mangalore- Chennai Mail has shot up to 52, making it one of the most gruesome in the history of the Railways. Unofficial sources put the toll at 60.

About 180 persons, some of them with serious injuries, are under treatment. Many of those who escaped unhurt are in a state of shock after their narrow escape. The Railway Minister, Mr. Nitish Kumar, who reached the accident site at Kadalundi in Malappuram district this morning, announced compensation of Rs. 1 lakh to the next of kin of those killed. The injured would be given up to Rs. 4 lakhs depending on the gravity of their injury; they would also be eligible for free treatment. The Kerala Chief Minister, Mr. A.K. Antony, also announced compensation of Rs. 30,000 to the next of kin of the deceased, and relief to the injured.

Mr. Kumar indicated there was reason to believe that the accident was caused due to the sinking of the pile foundation of the steel bridge.

Probe ordered

Talking to presspersons, the Minister of State for Railways, Mr. Digvijay Singh, discounted the possibility of the accident being caused by sabotage. The inquiry by the Railway Safety Commissioner, Mr. P.K. Sen, is expected to throw light on the cause of the mishap.Six compartments derailed and four of them fell into the river. Among those thrown into the river was the train guard, who was later rescued.

A passenger, who was in the air-conditioned coach, said he was jolted out of his sleep by an unusual jerking motion and that the train came to a halt after the brakes were applied. Someone in the coach shouted that the train had caught fire. He saw smoke emanating from a compartment after he jumped out.

Track laid in 1862

The accident has raised questions about safety standards. The Kadalundi river south bridge is part of the Chaliyar-Tirur line, one of the earliest to be laid in the State by the Britishers. The track was laid in 1862 to transport timber from the forests in Malappuram district. Construction of a new bridge has been going on for nearly one-and a-half years.

The State Government has announced two days of mourning in the Kozhikode and Malappuram districts from today.

Our Chennai Staff Reporter writes:

Though the Railways expected to restore the track in a couple of days, reports reaching Chennai suggested that the work could take ``at least a week''.

Heavy rain, the single line operation and difficulty in reaching relief material to the spot are among the handicaps. The Shoranur-Mangalore section will remain cut off from the rest of the State as most trains are being terminated at or diverted from Shoranur.

Rescue operations stopped

PTI, UNI report:

Operations to rescue possible survivors were called off this afternoon after the authorities concluded there could be no more survivors after being under water for nearly 24 hours after the accident.

Railway sources said four bodies were badly trapped in the submerged compartments and rescuers could not access them.

Meeting called off

The high-level meeting convened in New Delhi today by Mr. Kumar to suggest measures for better functioning of the rail network has been postponed. The decision to postpone the meeting was taken as Mr. Kumar, Mr. Rajagopal, the Railway Board Chairman, Mr. Ashok Kumar, and three members of the Board were at the accident site, an official spokesman said.

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