New Delhi, December 14
The Railways has ordered an inquiry into causes of today’s head-on collision between Jammu Tawi-Ahmedabad Express and Jalandhar-Pathankot Local Passenger (Diesel Multiple Unit) near Mukerian in Hoshiarpur in which at least 27 persons were killed.

The inquiry by Commissioner of Railway Safety, Northern Circle, is likely to be completed in a month.

The Railways has announced an ex-gratia relief of one lakh rupees to the next of kin of those killed, Rs 15,000 to the passengers grievously injured and Rs 5,000 to those suffering minor injuries.

The accident occurred between Bhangala and Mirthal stations on the Jallandhar-Pathankot section of Ferozepore Division of Northern Railway at 12 noon.

With preliminary inquiries suggesting “human failure,” the Railways has suspended Station Masters of Bhangla and Mirthal stations.

Northern Railway Spokesman Davinder P.S. Sandhu said the Railways will lodge criminal cases against the two station masters. He said the Railways will bear hospitalisation charges of the injured. He said if a passenger was physically handicapped as a result of the train accident, the Railways would provide him suitable employment.

Mr Sandhu said 6032 Jammu Tawi-Chennai Express scheduled to depart at 11.15 pm today has been rescheduled to depart at 6.50 am tomorrow. The 5098 Jammu Tawi-Barauni Amarnath Express scheduled to depart at 10.05 pm today has been rescheduled to depart at 6 am tomorrow. He said the injured have been admitted to the Army Hospital, Pathankot and Civil Hospital at Mukerian.

The spokesman said five accident-relief medical vans from Pathankot, Amritsar, Ludhiana had reached the site of accident to assist in relief and rescue work. The deceased included drivers of both the trains. There was single track between Bhangala and Mirthal stations.

Railways Minister Lalu Prasad, accompanied by senior Railway officials, left for the site of accident on a special aircraft.

In a suo-moto statement in the Lok Sabha today before he left for the accident site, Mr Prasad said two coaches of the Jalandhar-Pathankot Passenger capsised and two coaches of Jammu Tawi Express derailed after the head-on collision.

The minister said medical relief van and accident relief van had left for the site from Pathankot and Amritsar. Later, Mr Prasad told mediapersons that strict action will be taken against those who had derelicted duty.

Today’s accident has cast a cloud over claims by Mr Prasad of having improved rail safety record since he assumed office of the Railways Minister.

The Railways had informed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently that the number of “consequetional train accidents” had come down from 190 to 118 in the period between May and November this year compared to the same period last year.