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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Harrowing experience for passengers

V. Raghavendra

Rescuing passengers becomes difficult with thick smoke billowing from the train

Passengers could neither stay in the train nor jump out in darkness
There was almost a stampede with everyone running for their lives

Photos: Nagara Gopal and M. Murali

The aftermath: Union Minister of State for Railways N. J. Rathwa inspecting charred compartments of Gautami Express at Kesamudram in Warangal district on Friday. (Centre) Forensic officials collecting samples. (Right) Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy at a hospital in Warangal. –

KAKINADA: Passengers of the Gautami Express, who survived the tragedy and reached here on Friday afternoon, had harrowing tales to tell about the chaos that reigned before the train halt at Kesamudram.

According to them, the fire swept through the coaches S-9, S-10, S-11, S-12 and S-13 and nothing could be done to save the passengers, particularly those stuck in coach S-10, as the doors did not open.

Gaining entry into the burning train was impossible as smoke was billowing out. As a result, several passengers were burnt alive in front of those who tried to save them.

It was like a ‘devil and deep sea’ dilemma as the passengers could neither stay put in the train nor jump out in the pitch darkness outside. Inaccessibility of the spot proved to be the bane and everything was over in about an hour.

Digumarti Subbalakshmi, additional DMHO of East Godavari district, was visibly upset with what happened to her fellow travellers. She said: “I was about to sleep when I heard loud cries and panic gripped all of us. There was almost a stampede with everyone running for their lives. I was shocked to see the train burning after I jumped out”.

“Being a doctor, I gave first aid to a few passengers, but the scale of disaster was much bigger than what initially appeared to me. I can never forget people writhing in pain with bleeding injuries. One or two of them died moments later.”

“I was jolted from my berth at 1.05 a.m. when the train came to a sudden halt. Passengers from my adjacent coach (S-10) were virtually running over one another. It was a few moments later that I discovered that the train was on fire. There was no light except in the ill - fated coaches,” the doctor said.

Many jump out

Many passengers jumped out as the train slowed. “I too took the plunge but was lucky to have not sustained even a minor injury,” said Rayudu Appa Rao, A.P Government Drivers’ Association president. He went on to narrate that efforts to pull out passengers to safety failed as the doors were bolted.

S. Santhamma had a miraculous escape. She was allotted a berth in S-12 (which was completely gutted) and was later changed to S-7 where her son and his wife were travelling.

When they reached Kakinada, they were overwhelmed with emotion.

Railway officials said five persons from East Godavari district were among those dead.

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