At least 20 persons were feared dead and 30 others injured after being hit by Saharsa-Patna Rajyarani Express at Dhamara halt, 200km from Patna, Monday morning. The angry local residents have set fire to the Express and two other trains and held several railway officials hostage. The victims, most of them kanwariyas (devotees of Lord Shiva),were in a hurry to get down from a passenger train to rush to the near by Katyani temple. “But unfortunately they got down from the passenger train and headed for the temple at the same time Rajyarani Express entered the station,” said a police officer on the condition of anonymity. "We have information that at least 10 pilgrims were killed while they were crossing the tracks despite the red signal," said railway spokesman Amitabh Prabhakar. He said the toll is likely to rise. However, the people blamed the local railway authorities for the accident and set fire to Rajyarani Express and two other trains besides taking hostage five to six officials, including the loco pilot of Rajyarani Express. They have also attacked the local station, forcing other railway officials to flee from the place. A police team that arrived at the spot was chased away by the protesting crowds, sources said. All the injured have been admitted to nearby hospitals in Katihar and Saharsa. Some of them are said to be“very critical” and may have to be shifted to district hospitals. Chairman Railway Board Arunendra Kumar told reporters in New Delhi that officials were focusing on rescue operations and the responsibility for the accident cannot be fixed right now.
Posted on: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 07:09:25 +0000
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