M A I N   N E W S

Railways says sabotage
Tribune News Service and Agencies

New Delhi, September 10
Chairman Railway Board, I.I.M.S. Rana, on returning today from the accident spot, reiterated that sabotage was the main cause of the accident.

Addressing mediapersons at Rail Bhavan here late evening, Mr Rana said the train had derailed 50 metres before reaching the bridge and that there was no link between the bridge and the derailment.

He said there was no structural deficiency in the 280-feet-long bridge or the 60-kg track. He said a goods train had travelled on the same track 40 minutes before the accident. “The fish plates had been removed. Forty minutes is sufficient time for anybody to tamper with fish plates. From every point of view, it is clear cut case of sabotage. You can loosen the nuts and bolts and a train can pass. The person can finish the job later,” he said.

Railway Minister Nitish Kumar, his deputy Bandaru Dattatreya and Railway Board Chairman Rana have spoken about the removal of fish plates from the rail track leading to the accident.

As the sabotage theory gained currency during the day, a few hours after the tragedy late last night, the Bihar administration pointed an accusing finger towards the Railways by raising doubts over the condition of the bridge.

Bihar authorities and former Chief Minister Laloo Yadav are suspecting that the condition of the bridge over the Dhave river was a factor in the tragedy.

The status of the bridges has once again come under the scanner after all but four of the 18 bogey Howrah-Delhi Rajdhani Express jumped tracks as the high speed train was negotiating a bridge.

RJD supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav said the river bridge was “too old” and alleged that the Railways had not taken any step for its upkeep while State’s IGP (operations) Neelmani ruled out the possibility of sabotage.

“It does not appear to be a case of sabotage. The Railway authorities have jumped to a conclusion without even caring to verify the ground realities,” Mr Neelmani said.

15 trains diverted
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 10
The Railways has diverted the route of 15 passenger trains following the derailment of 2301 Howrah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express last night.

According to a press note issued by the Railways here today, these trains include 3009 Howrah-Dehra Dun Express diverted via Asansol-Jhajha-Patna-Mughalsarai, 2321 Howrah-Chatrapati Shivaji Asansol-Jhajha-Patna-Mughalsarai, 2307 Howrah-Jodhpur Express diverted via Asansol-Jhajha-Patna-Mughalsarai, 9306 Howrah-Indore Express diverted via Dhanbad-Gaya-Patna and Mughalsarai, 3307 Dhanbad-Ferozepore Express diverted via Dhanbad-Gaya-Patna- Mughalsarai, 2815 Puri-New Delhi Express diverted via Dhanbad-Gaya-Patna Mughalsarai, 2311 Howrah-Kalka Express diverted via Dhanbad-Gaya-Patna-Mughalsarai, 2440 New Delhi-Ranchi Rajdhani Express diverted via Mughalsarai-Dehri-on-Sone-Garwa road and Barka Kana, 2422 New Delhi Bhubaneshwar-Rajdhani Express diverted via Mughalsarai-Dehri-on-Sone-Garwa road and Chandrapur, 8606 Hatia-Delhi Express diverted via Dehri-on-Sone-Garwa road, 2801 Puri-New Delhi Express diverted via Barka Kana-Garwa road and Dehri-on-Sone, 2313 Sealdah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express diverted via Gaya-Patna, 3308 Ferozepore-Dhanbad Express diverted via Mughalsarai-Garwa road, Barka Kana and Dhanbad, 3151/3152 Sealdah-Jammu Tawi-Sealdah Express diverted via Mughalsarai-Patna and Gaya and 2322 Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus-Howrah Express diverted via Mughalsarai-Patna-Jhajha and Asansol.

PM in touch

Frankfurt, September 10
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is constantly monitoring the situation following the accident of the Howrah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express near Gaya in Bihar last night in which more than 120 passengers are feared dead. Mr Vajpayee was informed about the accident by officials of the Prime Minister’s Office in New Delhi immediately after the news about the train accident broke.

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee who was on his way to New York expressed his heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the bereaved families and wished speedy recovery of the injured. UNI

Kalam expresses grief

New Delhi, September 10
President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has expressed profound grief over the death of at least 120 passengers of Rajdhani Express which met with an accident in Aurangabad district in Bihar last night. In his message, he said he was shocked to hear about the accident.

The President has sent his condolence to the bereaved families and prayed to The Almighty to give them strength to bear the grief. Mr Kalam, while wishing speedy recovery to the injured, assured all possible medical help for them. UNI