Raigad: Nineteen people were killed and 132 others injured when the engine and four bogies of a passenger train derailed on Konkan Railway route in Maharashtra's Raigad district on Sunday. The accident occurred just outside a tunnel near Nidi village when the engine and four out of the 20 bogies of Diwa-Sawantwadi passenger train derailed at around 10 AM between Nagothane and Roha railway stations, about 120 kms from Mumbai. According to Raigad police control room, 19 passengers were killed and around 132 others injured in the mishap, which took place in a remote area. The death toll rose as more bodies and injured persons were found trapped when the overturned bogies were being removed, a police official said.
Rescue operations were underway, police said. Bodies were sent to Nagothane primary health centre for post-mortem, while six were taken to government hospital at Roha, the police control room said. Of the injured passengers, a majority were being treated at Roha government hospital and the rest at Nagothane primary health centre, it said. Following the mishap, services on Konkan Railway route were suspended. According to railway authorities, some trains were diverted via Panvel-Lonavala-Pune-Miraj-Londa-Madgaon and a few cancelled. A goods train had derailed last month on the route, affecting services. The Railways ordered an inquiry and Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge announced an ex-gratia of Rs two lakh each for the next of the kin of those killed in the accident, Rs 50,000 for the grievously hurt and Rs 10,000 for passengers who suffered minor injuries. Railway Board Chairman Arunendra Kumar said Commissioner, Railway Safety, Chetan Bakshi will conduct the inquiry and has rushed to the site.
The Chairman, along with Advisor, Health, B B Agarawal, is also visiting the accident site. The Railways also started two helpline -- Thane -- 022-25334840 and Panwel -- 022-27468. The helpline numbers on which passengers can contact Konkan Railway are 02352-228176/ 228951/228954 and 022-27561721/3/4. For the convenience of passengers, Konkan Railway has arranged for state transport buses from Konkan region to be diverted via various Konkan Railway stations on the way to Mumbai. Those passengers who have a valid train ticket for the cancelled/diverted/short terminated trains, can travel by these buses towards Mumbai. Passengers are not required to pay anything for the bus journey, railway authorities said. Refund is being paid by Konkan Railway at its various stations for those passengers who would like to cancel their journey, they said. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan spoke to Mallikarjun Kharge over the train accident, an official in the CMO said. "Chavan expressed grief over the accident and directed the local authorities to help the injured passengers in getting the necessary treatment," the official said.
