Base of track washed away in flood, 2 trains derail, 24 deaths

Harda (MP)

At least 24 persons were killed and 25 others injured after the seven coaches of Kamayani Express and five bogies of Janata Express derailed while crossing a swollen Machak river near Harda late last night.

Twenty four bodies, including nine men, 10 women and five kids, have been recovered so far from the mishap site between Khirkiya and Harda stations , Madhya Pradesh Public Relation Department Commissioner Anupam Rajan told PTI today.

The toll could further go up, he said.

According to West Central Railway PRO Piyush Mathur seven coaches of Kamayani Express and five bogies plus the engine of Janata Express were derailed late last night as the base material on the tracks got washed away.

“Seven bogies of Kamayani Express and engine plus three coaches of Janata Express were derailed between Khirkiya and Bhirangi stations near Harda,” Mathur said.

“The mishap took place around 11.30 PM on Tuesday as base material of the tracks got washed away in heavy rains.

“Nearly 25 passengers suffered injuries,” the PRO said.

Divisional Commercial Railway Manager (DCRM) Brajendra Kumar said that search operation has been launched in nearby areas to find people who might have got washed away in heavy floods.

Bhopal Railway PRO said that over 250 passengers were rescued so far.

A passenger of Kamayni Express, Akhilesh Pratap Singh told PTI that he along with over 150 passengers, travelling in the general class coach, were stranded on a hilltop to save themselves.

The accident relief train has reached the spot and several passengers have been brought to a nearby station.

Kamayani Express enroute to Varanasi from Mumbai derailed near Harda, about 160 kms from Bhopal, and the Mumbai-Jabalpur.Janata Express derailed around 11.30 late last night.

Update

Harda twin train mishap: Railways announce a compensation of Rs 2 lakhs to the next of the kin of the deceased. Rs 50,000 to grievously injured and 25,000 for minor injuries.

Inquiry ordered into the twin train mishap in Harda: Commissioner Railway Safety (central zone) to conduct the probe: Railways.

25 injured in MP train derailments, rescue ops on: WCR

Nearly 25 passengers were so far reported injured after two trains derailed while crossing a swollen Machak river near Harda in Madhya Pradesh even as rescue operations continued through the night, officials said today.

According to West Central Railway PRO Piyush Mathur seven coaches of Kamayani Express and three coaches plus the engine of Janata Express were derailed late last night as the base material on the tracks got washed away.

“Seven bogies of Kamayani?Express and engine plus three coaches of Janata Express were derailed between Khirkiya?and Bhirangi stations near Harda,” Mathur said.

“The mishap took place around 11.30 PM on Tuesday as base material of the tracks got washed?away in heavy rains.

“Nearly 25 passengers suffered injuries,” the PRO said.

Meanwhile, rescue operations continued even as several passengers were feared trapped in water after coaches of both the train plunged into the river.

Divisional Commercial Railway Manager (DCRM) Brajendra Kumar said that many passengers were rescued from the stranded trains.

A passenger of Kamayni Express, Akhilesh Pratap Singh told PTI that he along with over 150 passengers, travelling in the general class coach, were stranded on a hilltop to save themselves.

The accident relief train has reached the spot and several passengers have been brought to a nearby station.

Kamayani Express enroute to Varanasi from Mumbai derailed near Harda, about 160 kms from Bhopal, and the Mumbai-Jabalpur Janata Express derailed around 11.30 late last night.

PM Modi expresses distress over twin train accident in MP

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi today expressed distress and pain over the loss of lives in twin train accident in Madhya Pradesh and said authorities are doing everything possible on the ground.

“The two train accidents in Madhya Pradesh are deeply distressing. Deeply pained over the loss of lives. Condolences to families of deceased,” Modi tweeted.

At least 20 passengers were so far killed after two trains derailed while crossing a swollen Machak river near Harda in Madhya Pradesh even as rescue operations continued through the night, officials said today.

According to West Central Railway PRO Piyush Mathur, seven coaches of Kamayani Express and three coaches plus the engine of Janata Express were derailed late last night as the base material on the tracks got washed away.

“My prayers with the injured. Authorities are doing everything possible on the ground. The situation is being monitored very closely,” Modi said in another tweet.

Meanwhile, rescue operations continued even as several passengers were feared trapped in water after coaches of both the train plunged into the river.


Monsoon caused cave in at 500-metre tracks: Chairman Railway Board

New Delhi

The 500 metre rail track which caved in between Itarsi and Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh where two express trains derailed was not among the vulnerable sections identified by the Railways during monsoon, a top Railway official said today.

Railways undertake pre-monsoon preparation every year on vulnerable section as precautionary measure and the derailment spot was not among those identified sections, Chairman Railway Board (CRB) A K Mital said here.

Twenty-nine people were killed as two express trains derailed on the flooded tracks in the Itarsi-Khandwa section in Harda district of Madhya Pradesh last night.

Blaming the sudden surge of water as possible cause of the derailment, Mital said “One cannot rule out natural calamity and the flash flood caused extensive damage to the track which resulted in the derailment. The track was otherwise alright and two trains crossed the track just eight minutes before the incident.”

Railways have ordered an inquiry into the incident to ascertain the real cause of the twin mishap. Railway Safety Commissioner (central region) will conduct the probe.

He said there were reports of overflowing of a nearby dams but it will be known only after the submission of the inquiry report.

Ruling out any defect in the bridge, Mital said there was regular patrolling on the section and no train is allowed to cross defective bridge.

Minister of State for Railway Manoj Sinha and Member Engineering VK Gupta had rushed to the site to have a first hand knowledge of the incident.

Whether the typical soil of the area played a role in breach of tracks, Mital said black cotton soil of the area was strengthened before laying the track as a standard procedure for rail laying process.

CRB also praised the loco drivers for stopping the trains after witnessing flash flood. “Both the drivers put brake and trains stopped. Otherwise casualty could have been more,” he said.

However, railways still maintain that there were 12 deaths in the twin mishap. “We are aware of recovery of more bodies. But these were found away from the mishap site and they could be swept away from nearby villages in the flood.”

Services of more than 50 trains were affected due to the mishap as many were diverted and short-terminated. It will take some days to restore the 500-metre long rail track in the Itarsi-Khandwa section.

PTI