Date:13/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/13/stories/2007061310700100.htm

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Train accident: toll rises to three

B. Madhu Gopal

Eight persons in critical condition; General Manager inspects Gurudev Express accident site

SHOCK AT NIGHT: Coaches of the Nagercoil-Howrah Gurudev Express that derailed near Duvvada, 30 km from Visakhapatnam, late on Monday night. — Photo: K.R. Deepak

VISAKHAPATNAM: The toll in the accident involving the Nagercoil - Howrah Gurudev Express has risen to three with two more bodies being recovered from the derailed coaches on Tuesday. The dead were identified as: Veerender (18), Shashi Swain (35) (both from Orissa) and M. Prasada Rao (51) of Visakhapatnam.

Of the eight seriously injured, seven are undergoing treatment at the KGH and one was admitted to the NTR Hospital at Anakapalle. The accident occurred about 1 km. after the train crossed the Duvvada railway station.

The deaths and damage could have been much higher but for the presence of huge mounds of earth on either side of the track that prevented the coaches from falling on their sides.

East Coast Railway General Manager A. Khurana, who inspected the accident site on Tuesday morning, declined to comment on the cause of the accident saying that the Commissioner of Railway Safety would visit the site on Wednesday to make an assessment.

Though the locomotive and the first few coaches are intact, the assistant driver was said to have been thrown off his seat. He, however, gathered strength a little later and informed the Duvvada station on the walkie-talkie about the accident. The accident site presented a picture of gloom with shocked passengers moving around in the darkness around midnight on Monday. Anxious men, women and children of nearby areas made a beeline to the spot on Tuesday morning.

"Of the 13 seriously injured we shifted to various hospitals, one youth succumbed to his injuries. Veerender (18) was standing near the door when the coach fell on its side and he was crushed between the yellow rod, used as a support to board and alight the train, and the mound," said EMRI Regional Coordinator M.S.R. Swaroop.

Relief operations

The Railway authorities took up relief and restoration work on a war-footing. Divisional Railway Manager Indra Ghosh and Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Venugopal supervised the track restoration work. Cranes were seen lifting the derailed coaches and workers removing the damaged rails and sleepers.

"We have already cleared one line for movement of passenger traffic and the damaged track would be restored by tomorrow (Wednesday) morning," Mr. Venugopal said. A relief train has been sent to Howrah this morning (Tuesday) to clear the stranded passengers.