Sixteen passengers were killed and 21 injured in a rail accident near Mathura on Wednesday morning. The mishap occurred when Delhi bound Goa Express hit the stationary Mewad Express from behind near Mathura. While two bogies derailed another was badly damaged in the accident. According to the spokesman of the railway Ministry, the injured passengers have been admitted to different hospitals in Mathura for treatment. Relief and rescue operations are in progress. The army has rushed 150 personnel equipped with gas cutters to carry out rescue operations.<br/><br/>The Chairman of the Railway Board, DG, Health in the Railways and other senior railway officers has already reached the site. The Minister of state for railways, E. Ahmad will be reaching there this afternoon.<br/><br/>The railways have ordered an inquiry and the commissioner of rail safety of North-East circle Lucknow, Mr. P.K. Vajapayee will be conducting the probe. The train’s movements on Mathura-Delhi route has begun partially. Our Lucknow correspondent reports that Mewar express train has now moved to its destination taking most of the passengers. The railway has sent passengers of Goa express train to Delhi in 40 buses from Mathura station. <br/><br/>The Railway Minister Ms. Mamta Banerjee has announced an ex-gratia of five lakh rupees for the next of the kin of those killed in the accident, one lakh for the seriously injured and ten thousand for the minor injuries. According to the Northern Railway spokesman, one lakh rupees each will be given to the seriously injured passengers while those with minor injuries will get ten thousand rupees. Railway has opened help line numbers for enquiry.<br/><br/>The numbers at Mathura are 05652421041, 05652402008 and 0565 2422402009. The help line number at accident site is 09760536869. Delhi: 011-24359798 Ajmer: 0145-2429642 Udaipur:0294-2483979 and at Agra: 0562-2421-41<br/>