ANANTPUR (AP), Dec 28:
A major fire ripped through an AC coach of the Bangalore-Nanded Express train, roasting alive 26 people, including two children, in sleep and injuring 13 others in the wee hours today in the district.
The fire broke out in the AC 3-tire coach B-1, fourth from the engine, near Sri Satya Sai Prasanthi Nilayam railway station, about 170 kms northeast of Bangalore, at 3:45 am when most of the passengers were fast asleep.
After noticing the fire, the driver stopped the train near Kothacheruvu railway station and the ill-fated coach was detached, preventing the fire from spreading to other boggies.
“So far 26 persons have died in the incident. Rescue operations are still going on,” Anantpur District SP S Senthil Kumar told reporters.
SP of Guntakal Railway Police Janardhan said 13 people were injured in the mishap and have been shifted to various hospitals in Anantpur.
Exact cause of the fire is not immediately known but Railway Board Chairman Arunendra Kumar said prima facie there could be two reasons – one is short circuit and the other presence of inflammable material.
Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge described the incident as “tragic and most unfortunate” and ordered an inquiry by the Commissioner of Railway Safety.
“Preliminary reports indicate that the cause of the fire was electrical short-circuit near the Air-Conditioning Unit,” Andhra Director General of Police B Prasada Rao said.
Forensic teams from Hyderabad are on their way to the spot to collect samples for analysis.
The train had left Bangalore at 10:45 pm last night with a composition of 16 coaches, South Western Railway said, adding that the affected coach was carrying 65 passengers.
According to railway officials, the bodies of passengers are being shifted from the accident spot to Victoria Hospital in Bangalore.
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh expressed shock and grief over the loss of lives in the mishap.
He also spoke to the Railway Minister and inquired about the rescue and relief work being carried out at the site.
The Railway Minister announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased, Rs 1 lakh in case of grievous injuries and Rs 50,000 for simple injuries.
District Medical and Health Officer Dr C Ramasubba Rao said the femur (thighbone) of the deceased will be preserved for DNA test as the bodies were charred beyond recognition.
This is the second train mishap in the district. In March last year, 25 passengers were killed, near Penukonda in the district when the Bangalore-bound Hampi Express rammed into a stationary goods train after its driver apparently overshot the signal near the station here in the wee hours.
The Railway Minister has instructed officials to provide best treatment to the affected passengers.
As per his directions, the officers of Railway Board, Member Electrical, Kul Bhushan, and Director General, Health have rushed to the accident spot from Delhi.
The Railways have requested relatives not to go to the accident site and instead come to Victoria Hospital for identification of bodies. (PTI)
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