Bhopal, November 28
At least 12 persons, including a woman, were mowed down by the Chennai-Lucknow Jayanti Janata Express near Bhopal today.
The victims, all young, were going to Sanchi on a Sunday outing. The Itarsi-Bina passenger train in which they were travelling had stopped at Sukhi Sevanian railway station, only a few kms away from Bhopal, to allow the Chennai-Lucknow Express to pass.
Following an alteration over the seat sharing in the passenger train, the youths were said to have jumped to the other side, unaware of the approaching train which had by now got into full speed.
According to the railway police, the driver of the train applied the emergency brakes but the train had cut into pieces 12 persons before it halted. Those killed all belonged to the Pampapur and Rahulnagar localities of Bhopal.
Senior civil and railway officials reached the spot soon after learning of the freak accident.
The Madhya Pradesh Minister of Health, Dr Gauri Shankar Shejwar, who was with the Chief Minister Babulal Gaur, to mourn the death of Mr Gaur’s only son following a massive heart attack, also rushed to the spot when he heard of the accident.
The state government has announced a relief of Rs 1 lakh each to next of kin of the deceased and Rs 25,000 each for the injured. The railways administration has also announced Rs 1 lakh each to the families of the killed and Rs 15,000 each for the injured.
UNI adds:
The Railways has established a helpline at Bhopal station — 0755-500016072. The control-room can be reached at 1072.
The deceased were identified as Pinky, Sunil, Sunil (namesake), Ajay, Ajay (namesake), Nishat, Manget, Nitesh, Rajendra, Ashok, Sumit and Deepu.
