Duronto train derails near Kalaburagi; 2 dead

Two women passengers were killed and eight others injured when a speeding Duronto Express from Secunderabad proceeding towards Lok Manya Tilak terminus in Mumbai (Train No 12990) derailed at Martur Railway Station, 20 km away from Kalaburagi city in the early hours of Saturday.

The victims have been identified as Jyothi Shankar (46), and Pushpalatha Harish (26), from Secunderabad.

Of the eight persons injured, an Indian Navy personnel Abdul Ashraf Gaffar lost one of his legs in the accident. The injured have been identified as Manik Reddy (62), Yadamma Manik Reddy (55), Srikant Kashinath (24), Ramakrishna Subba Reddy (40), Rajeeev Ramachandra (30), Abdul Ashraf Gaffar (21), Lakshmi (50), Bhaskar B Narasing (45).

According to the Railway authorities the Duroto Express, which was running at a speed of around 110 km per hour derailed seconds after passing the Martur Railway Station at 2.42 am. While the first seven coaches from the engine passed, the next eight coaches including the pantry car, HA1, A1, A2, A3, B7, B8, and B9 derailed and the remaining coaches in the back were safe.

The worst affected was the B8 coach in which both the victims and the injured were travelling. The victims were part of the 22- member employees of the Rajdeep Associates in Secunderabad and were proceeding to Lonawala in Maharashtra on a three-day vacation. Preliminary investigation by the police ruled out any sabotage. Most of the passengers were in a dazed conditions and were unable to explain the details of the accident.

Additional Divisional Railway manager of the Solapur Division of the Central Railways, Madhusudhan, who was among the first officers of the Railways to reach the spot around 4.00 am said all arrangements were being made for the onward journey of the stranded passengers and part of the unaffected Duronto Express would be allowed to travel to Mumbai with some of the passengers. The remaining passengers who wish to return to Secunderabad or proceed to Mumbai would be sent by other trains.

Helpline

He said that the Railways have opened a helpline in Gulbarga, Solapur, Secunderabad and Mumbai Railway Stations. The helpline numbers are:

Gulbarga 0847—2255066/2255067,

Secunderabad 040—27700968,

Solapur 0217—2313331,

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus 022—22694040,

Lokmanya Tilak Terminus 022—25280005,

Kalyan 0251—2311499.

Railway Board Chairman A.K. Mittal, and General Manager of the Central Railways and other senior officials were likely to visit the spot later on Saturday.

Inquiry

Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu said the ministry has ordered an inquiry into the incident. The inquiry will be conducted by Commissioner Railway Safety (Central circle) to ascertain the exact cause of derailment.