Five killed in Jharkhand train accident

The accident occurred at 5:50 am when the Brahmaputra Mail was on its way to Delhi from Dibrugarh.

The Brahmaputra Mail was passing through Karonpuroto station under Malda Division of Eastern Railway when a stationary goods train parked on the main line started rolling back and hit the mail train, sources said, adding that the impact of the collision caused the guard-cabin of the goods train, which was on the loop line, to mount the S-9 coach of the train.

Superintendent of Police (Rail) Praveen Srivastav however, said, “A bogie of 14055 Bramhaputra Mail derailed and dashed against a stationary goods train”. The Railways announced that the commissioner of railway safety, eastern circle, will conduct a probe into the accident and submit a detailed report.

Condoling the loss of lives, Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the seriously injured. Rs 10,000 will be paid to passengers with minor injuries.

North East Frontier Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer S Hajong said the deceased have been identified as Bijoy Roy of 4th Battalion of Assam Rifles, Girija Devi of Barharwa, Dinesh Mahaldar, Narendra and an unidentified youth aged around 25 years.

The injured have been identified as three-year-old Shabnam, Jamil Khatoon, Kunj Behari, Siddi, Saloo Miyan, Jakir Hussain, Naresh Kumar Yadav, Satish Kumar and Tushar Yadav, he added.

Railway Public Relations Officer Anil Saxena said the divisional railway manager of Malda was at the site along with other senior officials. “They are all focusing on relief and rescue operations,” he said.

Railways has suspended R K Paswan – the driver of the goods train, A K Singh – the assistant driver of the goods train, Ajay Kumar – the guard of the goods train, A N Yadav – loco inspector at Sahibganj and Aniruddh Kumar – on-duty assistant station master of Karanpurato station.

Five people were killed and nine others, including a child, injured in a collision between the Delhi-bound Brahmaputra Mail and a stationary goods train, about 25 km from Sahibganj in Jharkhand.

Ensure safety, says Trivedi New Delhi, DHNS: Irked by the frequent train accidents, Railways Minister Dinesh Trivedi asked officials to ensure safety for passengers. “The lethargy, negligence or carelessness in safety matters on the part of railway staff cannot be tolerated or allowed.  Everybody has to remain ever vigilant and geared up to ensure safe travel,” Trivedi told Railways managers attending the GeneralManagers’ Conference.