A night to forget; Rajdhani passengers recount horror

Recounting the fear and shock following the derailment of the Rajdhani Express, passengers of the New Delhi-Dibrugarh train on Wednesday said it was a "night to forget".

Rita Nath of Guwahati, who suffered injured on her head and chest in the derailment, said, "All the passengers in the coach had dinner early and went to sleep.

"I was sleeping on my berth when I suddenly felt the train tilting to one side. It tumbled over before I could get up. I lost consciousness after that," Rita told reporters from her bed at the Patna Medical College and Hospital.

"I regained consciousness after some time. It was dark all around. My limbs were numb and my head was paining. Some people pulled me out. I was thinking of death. This is one night I would like to forget in my life," she said.

Mauli Dhawan, 13, was also sleeping when the accident took place. She was travelling with her relative Pawan Kumar and bot have suffered head injuries.

Mauli said, "One uncle broke the window of my coach. He pressed my head, which was bleeding. Somebody wrapped a bandage and I was brought here."

Kavita Saikia of Tinsukia in Assam escaped unhurt, but her husband Achintya Saikia was not so lucky. He received head injuries and cuts on his legs.

"I am worried because he is a heart patient. We had gone to Delhi for his treatment and while returning had got berths in B-2 compartment. Most of the people travelling in my coach were injured. We were rescued after much effort," said Kavita. Nirupama Majumdar, a resident of Barpeta Road in Assam, and a passenger of coach number B-3, was sleeping on the middle berth, when she heard a loud noise.

She fell on the floor of the coach while one of her relatives sleeping on the upper berth fell on her. Her husband caught hold of the rods around the berth to stop himself from falling down, but injured his hands in the process.

"We are now worried about our luggage. There were so many suitcases and trolleys. I just managed to bring my purse and a bag. There were villagers and students of some engineering college around, who assured me that the luggage will be kept safely. I hope that the railway officials take care of this," she said.

The injured admitted at PMCH were Bipul Saikia, Raju Baidya, Sapna Baidya, Ashna Beri, Sanjiv Beri, Mauli Dhawan, Achintya Saikia, Rita Nath, Sewali Sharma, Jitendra Nath Burman, Nirupama Majumdar, Chittaranjan Majumdar, Beba Ram and Chameli Devi. All of them were from different places in Assam.

PMCH principal Amarkant Jha Amar said all heads of department, doctors and junior doctors were called for duty. "We are making efforts to pay full attention to the injured."

Image: An injured of the derailed Delhi-Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express at Patna Medical College and Hospital for treatment. Photograph: PTI Photo