The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Probe into Gautami Express fire begins

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Monday, Aug 04, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Probe into Gautami Express fire begins

Staff Reporter

– Photo: M. Murali

Pall of gloom: The scene at the inquiry meeting on Gautami Express tragedy at Warangal railway station on Sunday.

WARANGAL: Commissioner of Railways Safety R.P. Agarwal appealed to passengers of Gautami Express, which witnessed the worst fire accident claiming the lives of as many as 31 people, to give their eyewitness accounts.

The Commissioner began his inquiry into the accident by recording the versions of the railway staff at all the stations from Secunderabad to Kakinada. The eyewitness accounts would help find out exact cause. “The survivors who are inside the compartments can give us the details to construct the case,” he said.

The Commissioner recorded the versions of senior railway employees from Secunderabad, Vijayawada, Kakinada, and Kazipet railway stations.

He closeted with the driver of the ill-fated train, T. Venkateshwarlu, assistant driver K.R. Hari Prasad, Guard Ananda Raju. They were asked to stay put at the commissioner inquiry centre till the completion of the first day’s probe.

Meanwhile, one eyewitness, K Soma Babu, who travelled in the same train in the S10 coach, came to the station and submitted his version. He said that he along with his sister Ramulamma, 38, boarded the train at Secunderabad though they did not have the reservation tickets.

He said they approached a Ticket Travelling Examiner, who asked them to sit in S10 coach in 34 and 35 berths. They were assured of berth confirmation later.

“The TTE did not come and the fire broke out around at 1.10 a.m. when the train crossed Kesamudram railway station,” he explained. Mr. Babu said his sister woke him up after spotting smoke and soon fire engulfed the compartment within no time. Somebody opened the door after struggling for two minutes and I too jumped from the train and I shouted for my sister, but in vain, he said.

The officer also recorded his evidence in a written questionnaire. No post-mortems were conducted at MGM Hospital on Sunday as it being a holiday.

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