M A I N   N E W S

Train blast kills 2, injures 34
10 turn deaf, others may lose sight
From Chander Parkash
Tribune News Service

RAMAN MANDI (Bathinda), Oct 27 — Two persons were killed and more than 30 injured in a powerful bomb blast that took place in coach number 16032 of the Bathinda-Sirsa-Rewari passenger train close to Bangi Nihalsinghwala railway level crossing near this town on Divali last afternoon.

The bomb was so powerful that pieces of broken windowpanes and flesh were scattered over a large area. Out of the 34 injured, eight have been shifted to hospitals in Ludhiana while the others have been getting treatment at the Civil Hospital, Bathinda and Rama town. A few of the injured have been discharged after minor treatment.

This is the second train bomb blast in this area after the coming to power of the SAD-BJP government in Punjab. Earlier, a powerful bomb blast on a train at Lehra Khana in Bathinda district had left more than 35 dead and many maimed in July, 1997. Mr R.P. Meena, DIG, Faridkot Range, told TNS that the blast was caused by a cracker-type material in the coach and its intensity was low than even a crude bomb. He added that most of the passengers were injured by splinters of broken windowpanes.

He said that an anti-explosives team and forensic experts of the Punjab police who reached the spot could not find any rivets. He added that, however, the team members were examining the coach and site of the blast. He claimed that the blast was not caused by RDX or a crude bomb. Investigations were going on and nobody had been rounded up so far in this connection.

However, the blast was so powerful that two of the injured have turned completely and eight partially deaf while some may lose their eyesight as most of the injured have suffered burns and other injuries on the upper parts of their bodies. The berths of the passenger train which left Bathinda railway junction 1.40 PM. for Rewari were damaged. Even the lower portion of the roof where the blast took place was badly damaged.

The entire coach was a pool of blood and pieces of flesh were strewn about. The luggage of passengers and burnt clothes were also scattered hither and thither.

The two persons who succumbed to their injuries in the blast have been identified as Deepak Gupta, an employee in an insurance company at Sirsa, and Baldev Singh of the same town.

Mr Jaspal Singh, Deputy Commissioner, and Dr Jatinder Kumar Jain, SSP, who along with other officials rushed to the spot, made arrangements for the treatment of the injured and their shifting to the Bathinda Civil Hospital and other hospitals of the surrounding areas.

Mr Suresh Kumar, an Army personnel, who was also travelling in the ill-fated train, told TNS that he heard a big sound and then there was a screen of smoke. The blast took place minutes after the train crossed the Bangi Nihalsinghwala railway level crossing.

Mr Rajwinder Singh, a resident of the area, immediately informed the railway station authorities about the incident and everybody came into action to save the lives of the injured. The train which was stopped by the driver immediately after the blast, was taken to Rama station so that the injured could be given medical care without any delay.

The police also pressed dog squades into service to find out the reason of the blast and to detect explosive on any other coaches of the train.

Mr Mahesh Chaturvedi, Station Superintendent, Rama, said that the passengers were sent to their respective destinations by different modes of transportation. He added that the ill-fated train would be allowed to proceed further only after thorough examination. There was no damage to the rail track due to the blast, which took place around 2.20 PM.

Bhim Singh, a resident of Manwala village, who was injured in the blast, said that there was a bang and thick cloud of smoke. He added that he was totally confused about what had happened. He suffered injuries in one eye.

Mr D.A. Anand, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Bikaner Division, while addressing a press conference, said that according to information, 33 persons were injured and two had died in the blast. He added that Rs 15,000 would be given to the next of kin of the deceased, Rs 5000 to the seriously injured patients and Rs 500 to those who had suffered minor injuries.

He said the blast had taken place as someone had planted a low-intensity improvised explosive device in the coach. He added that the entire train was first examined at Bhiwani railway station then at Bathinda railway station before its departure for Rewari. He said that the Inspector-General of Police (Railways) had also inspected the site of the blast.

Train services on the Bathinda-Rewari section were disrupted for four hours only. Now the trains were plying as per schedule.

Mr Sunder Lal, who was manning the railway crossing where the incident took place (C-2/172), told the police that the train halted at the crossing around 2.15 pm and he called out to Mr Bala Sundram, assistant, who was sleeping, to go to the train and look into the matter. The train halted for about 10 to 15 minutes and by the time Mr Bala Sundram reached the spot the train had proceeded towards Rama police station. Mr Bala Sundram told the police that he was sleeping and did not heard any blasts.

Those killed are Deepak Gupta and Baldev Singh, both from Sirsa.

List of injured

The following is the list of injured released by Northern Railway:-

The grievously injured, admitted to DMC Hospital, Ludhiana, are Kuldeep Singh; Baldev Singh; Rinku; Jasbinder Singh; and Balveer Singh.

The persons who received simple injuries and were admitted to the Civil Hospital, Bathinda, are:- Chander; Umesh; Rakesh Kumar; Ghanshyam; Preeti; Amarjeet Kaur; Navdeep Singh; Balraj; Bhim Singh; Rinku; Triloki and Bhola Singh.

The persons who were given first aid at Rama and Bathinda and discharged are:- Harbhajan Singh; Nanak Singh; Labh Singh; Mitthu Singh; Sonu; Sunil Singh; Jagbir Singh; Ramesh Kumar; Mahinder Kaur; Sunil Kumar; and Papu Singh.