Hyderabad, January 3
Eighteen passengers were killed and 41 injured today when a Manmad-bound express train rammed into the rear of a stationary goods train in Maharashtra in the second rail accident in the region in a fortnight and the Railways blamed it on “human failure”.The accident occurred around 1.30 am at Ghatnandur station in Beed district, 300 km from here, and preliminary reports indicated that the Secunderabad-Manmad express’ driver applied emergency brakes to avoid collision with the rear of the goods train on the same track and as a result three of its coaches got derailed.
Two grievously injured children were airlifted and admitted to the Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences in Secunderabad while 39 were being treated at Ambagoi hospital near the accident site.
Railway Minister Nitish Kumar admitted in Delhi that the accident was because of “human failure” and warned of stern action against the erring officials. He said the Assistant Station Master and a “pointman” were absconding after the accident.
The Commissioner of Railway Safety, South Central Railway, has reached the accident site and will commence inquiry from Sunday. Regular traffic on the affected rail section is expected to be restored tonight.
The derailed coaches behind the engine were the passenger-cum-luggage coach, one general ordinary second class bogey and an AC three-tier coach. The fate of the driver of the express train was not known immediately.
PTI
