M A I N   N E W S

Trains diverted

Thiruvananthapuram, June 16
Several outgoing and incoming trains along the Konkan route were diverted in view of disruption caused by derailment of the Matsyagandha Express in Raigad district of Maharashtra today.

According to a Railway release here, the Thiruvananthapuram-Kurla Netravathi Express, Ernakulam-Nizamuddin Mangala Express and Ernakulam-Okha Express were diverted via Shornur, Tirupattur, Krishnarajapuram and Guntakkal via Wadi and Kalyan.

The Nizamuddin-Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express and Nizamuddin-Ernakulam Mangala Express, which left Nizamuddin on June 15, were diverted to run via Kalyan, Pune, Wadi, Guntakkal and Dharmavaram.

The Kurla-Thiruvananthapuram Netravati Express of June 16 was also diverted via Kalyan, Guntakkal, Dharmavaram.

The Ernakulam-Nizamuddin Mangala Express and Thiruvananthapuram-Kurla Netravathi Express and Thiruvananthapuram-Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express that left on June 15 were diverted to run via Madgaon, Londa and Pune, the release added. — PTI

Lucky survivor changed coach

Mumbai, June 16
A few passengers had a providential escape as the Mangalore-Mumbai Matsyagandha Express hit boulders and derailed, claiming 24 lives and leaving 60 injured on the Konkan Railway today.

A Mumbai-based electrical engineer, Avishu Rebello, said he was lucky to escape as he left the coach that met with the maximum damage for another one.

Rebello, who was travelling from Mangalore to Mumbai, said he had to leave the coach in which he had the ticket as it was crowded.

He later reached the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus by bus from the site of derailment.

A special train from Panvel has been arranged to bring passengers who were safe to Kurla, the railway authorities said.

Fedrik Ferriera, a relative of a passenger waiting at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, alleged “lack of arrangements” by the Railway authorities for the kin of the passengers at the station.

He said he had been waiting at the station since morning but the Railways had “failed” to provide any information about his relative travelling in the train. — PTI