Worried relatives seek more information on mishap

Anxious relatives of passengers in the Howrah-Mumbai Express, which was targeted by Maoists on Friday morning, are desperately calling up helpline numbers in Mumbai to know the status of their near and dear ones.

Maoists blasted rail tracks in West Midnapore district in West Bengal in the wee hours of Friday, derailing 13 coaches of the Mumbai-bound Howrah-Kurla Lokmanya Tilak Gyaneshwari Super Deluxe Express. Five coaches were hit by a goods train, leaving at least 65 dead and 200 others injured.

Joydeep Roy, who came to Lokmanya Tilak Terminus in suburban Kurla, said his brother was on board the train and he had been trying to get in touch with him since 5.30 am. But his mobile phone was switched off.

Roy said, "I am unable to get the details even on the Railway's helpline number in West Bengal. No correct information is given to us by railway authorities as to what actually led to the incident."

Meanwhile, a railway official said they have been receiving a number of calls from relatives of passengers asking about their loved ones.

Special arrangements have been made to ensure that the passengers coming to Mumbai are brought here as early as possible.