At least 25 people have been killed after the Kamayani Express from Mumbai to Varanasi and the Mumbai-Jabalpur Janata Express derailed near Kudawa railway station, about 30 kilometres from Harda district in south western Madhya Pradesh, late on Tuesday night.
Photos: Janata, Kamayani Express trains derail
More than 300 people have been rescued after the two trains derailed while crossing a swollen Machak river, said officials. According to officials, six coaches of Kamayani Express and three coaches plus the engine of Janata Express were derailed late last night as the base material on the tracks got washed away. “The mishap took place around 11.30 PM on Tuesday as base material of the tracks got washed away in heavy rains.”
READ: Flooding of tracks caused derailment, says A K Mittal, Chairman, Railway Board
ALSO READ: Rescue operations on at Harda
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5:00 pm: Chouhan said 25 passengers were killed and 50 injured in the twin train mishaps. A government spokesperson, however, earlier said the death toll in the twin train tragedy stood at 29.
5:00 pm: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the rail mishap in Harda district appeared to have been caused by heavy rains which led to the base of the track getting washed away, resulting in snapping of the overhead contact of the engine.
4:02 pm: The trains which are cancelled for tomorrow — 12167 LTT-Varanasi superfast, 51187 Bhusaval to Katnai Passenger and 12165 LTT – Varanasi Super Fast Express.
4:02 pm: The trains which have been cancelled for today are 11071 LTT-Varanasi Kamayani Express, 11081 LTT-Gorakhpur, 11053 11053/Mumbai LTT -Azamgarh Weekly Express, 11033 Pune-Darbhanga, 13202 Mumbai LTT – Rajendra Nagar Patna Janta Express, 11015 LTT-Gorakhpur Express and 12598 CST to Gorakhpur express.
4:02 pm: In the aftermath of the twin train derailment near Harda in Madhya Pradesh, the Central Railways have cancelled 10 down trains for today and tomorrow that originate from its zone.
1:30 pm: Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu spoke in Lok Sabha about the accident. He said that he would rush to MP to take stock of the situation.
It appears that flash floods caused the crash. The tracks were above soft mud: Anuradha Shankar, ADG Railways pic.twitter.com/9y2H7U1kb2
— ANI (@ANI_news) August 5, 2015
1:20 pm: Anuradha Shankar, ADG Railways, has told ANI that it appeared that flash floods were behind the accident.
It appears that flash floods caused the crash. The tracks were above soft mud: Anuradha Shankar, ADG Railways pic.twitter.com/9y2H7U1kb2
— ANI (@ANI_news) August 5, 2015
10:32 am: Congress VP Rahul Gandhi has offered condolences and expressed grief at the accident.
Very sad to learn of the derailment of 2 trains in Madhya Pradesh. My deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones in this mishap
— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) August 5, 2015
10:25 am: Survivors of the train accident wait at Harda railway station.
10:05 am: This man and his daughter are survivors from the horrific accident. They were in S9 coach of the train and they escaped by clambering on top of the coach. They hail from Allahabad.
9:47 am: Railways has now put out a list of all those trains which have been diverted after the accident.
9:39 am: The death toll has just gone up to 27. Rescue operation is still on at the accident site.
9:30 am: Railway Board Chairman AK Mittal told ANI that a sudden flash flood in 10 minutes may have led to the accident.
10 minutes back at this spot train movement was normal,there was no problem, it appears suddenly flash flood came in 10 mins time: AK Mittal
— ANI (@ANI_news) August 5, 2015
8: 15 am: Railway PRO has announced that ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh will be given to families of the deceased, Rs 50,000 to those who are critically injured and Rs 25,000 to those who have small injuries.
8:00 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also tweeted expressing anguish over the incident.
My prayers with the injured. Authorities are doing everything possible on the ground. The situation is being monitored very closely.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 5, 2015
7: 50 am: Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan has expressed his condolences to the families affected by the incident. He has assured of all possible medical assistance at the site.
Deeply saddened by this tragic train accident near Harda. My heartfelt condolences to the families of deceased in this unfortunate tragedy.
— ShivrajSingh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) August 5, 2015
We are providing all possible Medical assistance at the site. Medical teams from various cities have been rushed in to assist in R&R ops.
— ShivrajSingh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) August 5, 2015
7:30 am: We are getting information now that the Railways has now ordered an inquiry into the matter. Commissioner Railway Safety (central zone) will be conducting the probe.
7:20 am: The Madhya Pradesh government has announced casualties. At least 20 dead bodies have been found after the tragic train mishap.
7:00 am: HELPLINE NUMBERS
CST: 022-22694040
LTT: 022-25280005
THANE: 022-25334840
KALYAN: 0251-2311499
5:30 am: In all six coaches, including four sleeper coaches, of the Kamayani Express derailed.
“There was water on tracks and the bridge was submerged. So the last bogies of Kamayani Express got derailed. Simultaneously, on the other track the engines and coaches of the Janata Express also got derailed,” Railway spokesperson Anil Saxena said.
” We personally contacted passengers based on the data from our system. We get the mobile number of passengers when they book the tickets. Some of them said that after the accident, fearing death with water entering the bogies, they rushed to other bogies and that there are no casualties so far. However, we have not been able to contact other passengers as possibly their mobile phones must have been lost,” said Alok Badkul, senior commercial manager, Mumbai division.
3:45 am: CPRO Piyush Mathur said the incident did not occur on the bridge as was initially thought.
After disconnecting the derailed bogies, the Kamayani Express was taken to the Bhirangi Railway Station.
The incident occurred before midnight on bridge number 648/1 on the Machan River, where the water level was high due to heavy rainfall said a senior official in Mumbai.
Reports reaching Mumbai also said that another train – the 13201 Janata Express from Patna and headed to Mumbai Lokmanya Tilak Terminus also derailed at the same spot and around the same time.
2:00 am:
Local villagers,Admn r also in rescue operation. Everything that’s necessary and possible being done.Constant in touch with CM MP&Rail off
— Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) August 4, 2015
Each coach has a capacity to carry a minimum of 70 passengers. ” At present we are unable to connect with anyone on the trains with water levels proving to be a hurdle,” Ojha said.
Rushing emergency medical & other relief personnel to spot. darkness,water creating hurdles but ordered all possible help. Trying our best
— Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) August 4, 2015
Railway Ministry has directed senior officials to ensure emergency services such as medical help and food at the accident spot. The Railway Protection Force has also been rushed to the spot.
Railway minister, Suresh Prabhu has said that the Railways and the Madhya Pradesh government are working jointly on the rescue operation.
-With inputs from Milind Ghatwai