In Andhra Pradesh, 35 persons have been charred to death and 26 injured when the Chennai bound Tamil Nadu express caught fire between Nellore and Vedaypalem on Vijayawada-Gudur section during the early hours today. 28 Bodies have been recovered so far.
The train had left New Delhi railway station at 10.30 p.m. on saturday. Fire broke out at around 4.15 a.m. in the S-11 compartment after the train left Nellore Railway Station. Nellore District Collector Sridhar told reporters that the charred bodies are still being recovered from the gutted compartment.
The number of victims is likely to go up. The injured have been admitted in Nellore Government and private hospitals. The ill fated S-11 bogey has been shunted to Nellore Railway Station while the rest of the train has been sent to Chennai. Rescue and relief operations are underway on full swing.
The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has expressed condolences for the bereaved and has asked the Railway Ministry to coordinate with the state government for immediate relief and resuce. Railway Minister Mukul Roy is also reaching the accident site.
Railway Minister Mukul Roy today ordered an inquiry into the mishap and announced an ex-gratia payment of five lakh rupees each for the next of the kin of those killed in the accident. He also announced one lakh rupees each for the grievously injured and 25,000 rupees for those who suffered minor injuries.
The inquiry by D K Singh, Commissioner of Railway Safety of South-Central Circle, will look into the cause of the mishap.
Railway Ministry spokesperson Anil Saxena said, relief has been despatched through the accident relief medical train from Bitragunda station.
Minister of state for Railways, Muniyappa has expressed shock and conveyed condolences to the bereaved families. He will be reaching Nellore this afternoon to review the situation.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy and state Home Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy have left for Nellore to console the families of victims.
Helplines have been set up at several railway stations including Chennai, New Delhi, Vijayawada, Nellore and Secunderabad for information about the accident victims.
Chennai Central: 044-25357398 and 25330821
Secunderabad: 040-27786723, 27700868 and 27786539.
Vijayawada : 0866-2576924, 2575038 and 1072.
Nellore : 0861-2345864, 2345865 and 2345866.
Warangal: 0870-2426232 and 09701371063
New Delhi: 011-23342954; 23341072 and 23341074
Nizamuddin Delhi: 011-24359748
