(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Indian railways has ordered an inquiry into the accident and also announced an ex-gratia payment of rs200000 to dependents of those killed.
over 60 passengers injured as engine and four coaches of diva-sawantwadi express derails near roha.
at least 19 passengers were killed and more than 60 injured after the engine and four coaches of the diva-sawantwadi express derailed on sunday morning near roha about 100km south of here.
the accident happened between nagothane and roha stations and just outside a tunnel. local villagers rushed to the rescue of the passengers caught inside the compartments. later railway teams also joined in the rescue operations removing bodies from under the train and sending the injured to nearby hospitals.
services on the konkan railway a key link between mumbai goa coastal karnataka and kerala were disrupted following the accident. the authorities have suspended all services to and from mumbai to the south on konkan railway and diverted many other trains.
the passenger train which leaves diva on the outskirts of mumbai at 6.20am is popular among commuters in the konkan belt as it traverses through all three districts including raigad ratnagiri and sindhudurg.
indian railways has ordered an inquiry into the accident and also announced an ex-gratia payment of rs200000 to dependents of those killed. the seriously injured will be paid rs50000 and passengers having suffered minor injuries will be paid rs10000 said a railway spokesperson here.
home minister r.r. patil told the media after visiting the accident site that the derailment may have occurred due to technical problems. “we are giving all possible help to the victims’ families and providing medical attention to the injured.”
central railway officials said relief and rescue trains were sent to the accident site from thane and mumbai. work was on to remove the derailed bogies and engine to clear the tracks.
konkan railway has made arrangements for special buses to ferry thousands of passengers mostly vacationers either bound to and from goa and kerala to reach various destinations.
meanwhile massive traffic snarls were reported at various points on the usually busy mumbai-goa highway following the derailment.
many of the stranded passengers complained that there were no alternate forms of transport available and that private buses cabs and autos fleeced them.
the konkan railway passes through rough and mountainous terrain and accidents have become common. during the monsoons there are landslides which wash away the tracks. even last month there was a derailment involving a goods train when five empty wagons ran off the tracks disrupting services for several hours.
(with inputs from ians)
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