Kankavli (Dist Sindhudurg), June 24
Massive Rescue and salvage operations were underway in pouring rain today between Vaibhavwadi and Rajapur stations, where the Karwar-Mumbai holiday special derailed due to landslide on Sunday night, even as the toll in the first major rail disaster on the Konkan Railway network rose to 51.
The victims include nine children and six women.
At least 30 persons were injured, 15 of them seriously, when the engine of the ill-fated train derailed after a landslide which resulted in telescoping of four bogies over each other.
The authorities were hopeful of clearing the tracks and restoring traffic only by tomorrow as incessant rain was making rescue operations difficult.
At the time of the mishap the train was moving at a speed of 75 km per hour. The engine hit a boulder and derailed.
The task of identifying bodies as well as those seriously wounded became difficult as most of the casualties were from the general compartment.
The President, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, has expressed shock and grief over the loss of lives in the train accident. —
PTI
