Gujarat train mishap: At least 20 killed

Gujarat train mishap: At least 20 killed

Thursday, April 21, 2005 (Vadodara):

At least 20 people are killed in a train accident when Sabarmati Express collided head on with a goods train near Samaliya village in Vadodara district of Gujarat.

Officials have drastically scaled down the number of passengers killed, from over 100 to a maximum of 20.

However, senior government officials have said the death toll could be much higher.

The incident happened at around 3.20 am, according to wire reports. At least five coaches were badly mangled. These include one AC coach, two second class sleepers (S-5 and S-6) and one general coach.

According to latest reports, seventeen bodies have been recovered from the site so far. Two assistant drivers are also among those killed.

Nearly 50 people have also been given first aid and despatched to their homes, said AK Bhargav, DGP, Gujarat, Ahmedabad.

Ascertaining the cause

Helpline Numbers

All India 1072
Ahmedabad 079-22112503
Delhi 011-23344128, 011-24359748
Lucknow 0522-2636223
Varanasi 0542-2504039

Union Railway Minister Lalu Yadav who is on his way to the accident site, said that the focus is on rescue operations and that it was too early to say how the accident happened.

"I believe there must have been some signal problems. We are on our way to ascertain how it happened. It might be that the goods train was on the same track and it collided with it," said Lalu.

"Of the 50 people who are injured, some have sustained minor injuries. They will be given first aid. It is an unfortunate incident. We will locate the failure," he added.

Relief operations

Meanwhile, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi told, that the government had mobilised relief.

"As soon as the CM of the state Narendra Modi came to know of the accident he announced a state of red alert in the state," said Ashok Bhatt, Minister, Gujarat.

"Early in the morning, health department teams of Baroda and Panchkula reached here. The injured have been sent to SSG Hospital. The relief work is also on," he added.

Ambulances have rushed to the site, where at least seven bogies are reported to have derailed.

"Over 50 passengers were brought to the hospital. Four to five people have fractures, while others have simple injuries like abrasion and contusion," said Dr Mukesh Brahmbhatt, Chief Casualty Medical Officer, SSG Hospital, Vadodara.

A disaster management team has rushed from Gandhinagar and relief operations are on.