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17 killed, 200 injured in rail accident near Mathura

Seventeen people were killed and about 200 injured when the Delhi-bound GT express collided with the derailed wagons of a goods train near Mathura in the Jhansi division of Central Railway early on Friday morning.

According to official sources, 23 passengers were seriously injured while 109 were discharged after first aid. Seven bodies have been identified so far.

Rescue and relief operations are continuing in full swing at the accident site. A team of railway doctors along with accident relief medical vans were rushed to the site. Railway Minister Nitish Kumar, Railway Board Chairman V K Agarwal and senior officials also visited the spot to supervise rescue and relief operations.

The injured are being treated in the military hospital, civil hospital, J P Krishna Nursing Home and Swarna Jayanti Hospital in Mathura. The railway minister also visited the hospitals to inquire about the injured.

The accident occurred at 0216 hours IST when the engine and nine bogies of Chennai-New Delhi GT Express hit the derailed wagons of a goods train which had earlier derailed between Farah and Baad stations in the Mathura-Agra section.

The derailed wagons had infringed the parallel down line on which the GT Express was coming. The affected coaches of the ill-fated GT express include one luggage-cum-passenger coach, one unreserved coach and seven sleeper class coaches.

The stranded passengers of GT Express were brought to New Delhi by a special train.

Special enquiry counters have been set up by Northern Railway to provide information about passengers travelling on the GT Express.

Phone numbers: 011-3344128, 3344029, 3962389, 4619748 at Delhi;

0562-368145 at Agra;

0565-408987 at Mathura;

0751-341216 at Gwalior;

05172-330901 at Jhansi;

0755-536939, 538412 at Bhopal;

044-5358599, 5353718 at Madras.

Free travel passes to the accident site are being issued to the next of kin of the dead and injured from the nearest railway stations.

Seven of the dead have been identified:

1. Dhondiya, son of Samya, 9 years, resident of Washim, Akola.

2. Sanjay, son of Kundi, 4 years, resident of Washim, Akola.

3. Rajkumar, son of Dhallan, 11 years, village Ragotta, Chatarpur.

4. Ramabai, wife of Ram Munna, 50 years, village Rangoli, Baragaon, Chatarpur.

5. Parvat, 65 years, village Chokha, Kulapahar.

6. Guddi, 9 years, village Rangoli, Baragaon, Chatarpur.

7. Lakhna, 35 years, village Chokha, Kulapahar.

Of the remaining casualties, six are male.

UNI

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