M A I N   N E W S

Jaipur train mishap kills 6
11 coaches of Mandore Express go off-track l Mamata orders probe

Jaipur, November 14
The Delhi-bound Mandore Express derailed with some portion of the track piercing its AC compartment, leaving six passengers dead and 19 others injured in the wee hours in Bassi town near here today.

Eleven coaches of the train derailed at 1:30 am near Banshkov Railway station, 40 kms from here, after the train left the Pink City, said railway sources.

Following the derailment, a portion of the tracks pierced the AC compartment and probably hit the passengers, they said. Welders are being used to remove the iron rods. While three of the dead have been identified as Sonal Singh (18) of New Delhi, S Kumar of Jodhpur and Ujjawal Vadhwa (27) of Jaipur, three bodies are yet to be identified.

Nineteen of the injured, including a New Zealand national Ana Elizabeth, have been admitted to the SMS Hospital here. An inquiry has been ordered into the incident. Commissioner of Railway Safety, Western Circle, Prashant Kumar is inquiring into the mishap, said railway sources.

On Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee’s orders, Minister of State for Railways E Ahamed visited the accident site alongwith member, Railway Engineering Board, Rakesh Chopra and other senior officials.

Ahamed said it was too early to figure out what led to the mishap. He, however, said action would taken against anyone found guilty.

Meanwhile, the Railway Minister has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the next of the kin of those killed. An ex-gratia of Rs one l lakh would be given to the seriously injured and Rs 10,000 to passengers, who have received minor injuries, said a railways spokesman said.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also announced a compensation of Rs two lakh to the next of the kin of the deceased and Rs one lakh to those seriously injured. A sum of Rs 50,000 will be given to those who have received minor injuries.

Twelve trains have been diverted, including the New Delhi-Ajmer Shatabdi. The stranded passengers have been sent to Jaipur. State-owned buses have been pressed into service to take the passengers to their destination. — PTI