12 killed in train collision near New Delhi
At least 12 people were killed and 68 injured when the Karnataka Express rammed into the rear of the Jammu-bound Himsagar Express at Faridabad near New Delhi on Sunday night.
Most of the dead were in the unreserved compartments of the trains. The injured have been admitted to hospitals in Faridabad and the condition of some of them was stated to be serious.
Official sources said the Himsagar Express had just left
Faridabad station when the Karnataka Express hit it at around 2315 hours. The collision resulted in derailment of three coaches of
the Himsagar Express and seven coaches and two engines of the Karnataka Express.
Following prima facie evidence that he was responsible for the accident, the Karnataka Express's driver has been suspended, Union Railway Minister Ram Vilas Paswan informed the
Lok Sabha.
Paswan said though the driver of the Karnataka Express jumped the red signal, he could not be held solely responsible for the accident.
The time difference between the two trains was less than two
minutes. ''We should find out whether this can be considered safe,'' he added added.
Making a suo moto statement, Paswan said a statutory enquiry into the accident by the commissioner of railway safety (Central Railway) had been ordered. The preliminary report will be submitted within one week and the final findings by August 28, he said.
Paswan, who visited the site, announced an ex gratia of Rs 20,000 for the relatives of those killed, Rs 10,000 for those seriously injured and Rs 2000 for the injured.
Several trains scheduled to pass through Faridabad have been cancelled or diverted. However, Paswan said that two of the three tracks will be restored by Monday evening.
UNI
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