Patna/Sonpur (Bihar), February 3: At least six passengers were killed and 29 injured early on Sunday morning when 11 bogies of the Delhi-bound Seemanchal Express jumped the tracks in Bihar’s Vaishali district, railway and police officials said.
The 12487 Jogbani-Anand Vihar Seemanchal Express originated from Jogbani in Kishanganj district and the accident took place around 4 am. Prima facie, a rail fracture led to the derailment, they said.
Chief Public Relations Officer, East Central Zone, Rajesh Kumar, said the accident took place at Sahadai Buzurg, close to Mahanar Road in the Sonpur division. One general coach, one AC coach B3, three sleeper coaches — S8, S9, S10 — and six more coaches have derailed, he said.
The Helpline numbers for reaching out to officials is Sonpur: 06158221645;
Hajipur: 06224272230; Barauni: 06279232222
The Railways had earlier said that seven people were killed in the accident. However, it issued a clarification later, putting the death toll at six.
The deceased have been identified as Ilcha Devi (66), Indira Devi (60), Shamsuddin Alam (26), Ansar Alam (19), Shaida Khatoon (40), Sudarshan Das (60), the Government Railway Police (GRP) said. Of the 29 people injured in the accident, two have suffered grievous injuries, while 27 have received “simple injuries”, the GRP said.
The injured were rushed to a hospital here, where the doctors referred the seriously injured to Muzaffarpur and Patna.
The office of Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has announced Rs 5 lakh ex gratia each to kin of those killed, Rs 1 lakh each to the grievously injured people and Rs 50,000 each to those who received simple injuries.
Commissioner Railway Safety (Eastern Zone), Latif Khan, will conduct an inquiry into the accident.
Meanwhile, 12 unaffected bogies carrying 500 passengers left for Danapur at 9:52 am where 11 coaches will be added to the train. Some passengers were also taken to Hajipur in 10 buses, the officials said. Sufficient catering arrangements have been made at Danapur and Hajipur. Commercial officers have been deployed to take care of the passengers.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who expressed deep condolences over the deaths, said, “The district magistrate and the superintendent of police have rushed to the spot and are overseeing the relief work in coordination with the Railways.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi both expressed grief over the accident.
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