At least six people were killed and 38 others injured when 11 coaches of the New Delhi-bound Seemanchal Express derailed before dawn yesterday in a rural part of Bihar’s Vaishali district, authorities said.
A technical fault was blamed for the disaster that took place close to 4am near the Shahadai Bujurg railway station, jolting passengers out of their sleep and causing widespread confusion and panic in the darkness.
All the dead have been identified, the railways said.
Twenty-two of the injured were admitted in the Sadar Hospital at Hajipur. Eight grievously injured passengers were referred to the Patna Medical College and Hospital.
Kamlesh Kumar Singh, one of the survivors, said he was fast asleep when he heard a loud thud and fell off his berth. “There was darkness in the bogey and everyone was confused.” Another passenger, Anita Devi, said she suddenly heard the cries of other people who had apparently been injured. “I feared I was about to die but luckily I survived,” she said.
Mantosh Mandal, who sustained slight injuries in the leg, said he heard many crying in pain and fear.
According to officials, three of the 11 derailed coaches were damaged. The train plies between Jogbani in Bihar and Anand Vihar in New Delhi. The prima facie cause of the accident was said to be a fracture on the rail track.
East Central Railway (ECR) spokesperson Rajesh Kumar said the train resumed its journey for Delhi at 9.50am with about 1,500 passengers from the derailed coaches adjusted in the front 12 coaches.
An additional 11 coaches were added at Danapur near Patna.
The accident forced the railways to cancel 10 trains and divert eight on other routes.
Railway ministry spokesperson Smita Vats Sharma said three teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) carried out rescue and relief operations and an inquiry had been ordered into the cause of the derailment.
The inquiry will be carried out by rail safety commissioner (eastern circle) Latif Khan.
Railway Minister Piyush Goyal announced a compensation of Rs500,000 to the kin of those who died, Rs100,000 to the grievously injured and Rs50,000 to those who suffered simple injuries. “All medical expenses will be borne by the railways,” his office said.
The Bihar government has also announced a payment of Rs400,000 to the kin of the dead.
The first to reach the accident site were villagers who began taking the injured out of the derailed coaches. Some of them became angry over the delayed arrival of relief and rescue teams and what was described as the apathy of the railway and local officials.