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Sunday, Nov 15, 2009
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7 killed as train derails

Special Correspondent

4 bodies identified
Villagers pitch in

— Photo: Rajasthan Patrika

AWAITING HELP: Passengers of the Delhi-bound Mandor Express that derailed near Bansko station, 40 km from Jaipur.

JAIPUR: Seven passengers were killed and two dozen injured when the Jodhpur-Delhi Mandor Superfast Express derailed near the Bansko station in Jaipur district of Rajasthan early on Saturday.

The accident took place at 1.35 a.m. when most of the passengers were asleep. The train, on its way to Delhi, had a previous halt at Jaipur, some 35 km away. Railway authorities have so far confirmed only six deaths. The victims include a college girl Sonal Singh. Three other bodies have been identified as Ujjwal Wadhwa (27) of Jaipur’s Malviya Nagar, Sudesh Kumar and Mandeep Singh (42) of New Delhi.

Confusion arose over the other victims, as only mutilated body parts and a headless body were found at the site.

The villagers of the predominantly Gujjar-Meena belt on the gateway to east Rajasthan came out in large numbers to help the authorities and carry out the rescue and relief operations in the early hours.

On the directive of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, buses of the Rajasthan Roadways were operated to take 900-odd stranded passengers to Jaipur.

Those admitted to Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh Medical College Hospital with serious injuries are Nafeesha (60), Manish Chouhan (25), Manohar Vishnoi (28) and Kushbhu (25). One of the seriously injured, Rachna Bhardwaj (28), left for Delhi for treatment.The Railways have announced an ex gratia of Rs. 5 lakh to the kin of each of the deceased and Rs.1 lakh to the injured. Those with minor injuries were provided an assistance of Rs.10, 000 each.

The Rajasthan government announced an assistance of Rs. 2 lakh to the families of the dead. The seriously injured were given Rs.1 lakh each. Those with minor injuries were provided Rs.50,000.

Minister of State for Railways E. Ahamed, who visited the site in the afternoon, expressed appreciation over the “swift relief and rescue operations” carried out by the State authorities and the support provided to the Railway administration. Commissioner of Railway Safety Prashant Kumar will conduct an inquiry into the accident, Railway Ministry officials said.

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