25 dead as Loco shed near Agra collapses

Among the dead were four railway employees, some vendors and labourers engaged by a private firm conducting the demolition for doubling the track on Agra-Tundla railway section. Army was assisting the railway and civil authorities in searching for more bodies and possible survivors from the debris. The injured including Inspector of Works D.K. Sharma have been admitted to the railway hospital here.

One of the injured, Ramesh, admitted in S.N. Hospital, Agra, said many complaints had been send to the Railway officials for the removal of the dilipidated sheds. Amarpal Sharma, a local social worker, added that many times written complaints were made to the railway officials that the sheds be removed since coal engines are extinct, but they went unheeded.

Congress Minority Cell President Mohd. Sharif Qureshi said stations including Agra, Billochpura, Jamuna Bridge have crumbling loco sheds which are disasters in waiting. These stations are in urgent need for modernisation and improvement in the safety measures need to be taken, he said.

Railway officials said that the loco shed had been contracted out fordemolition much before, but the contractor started the demolition work late, resulting in the accident.

The Ministry of Railways ordered a high-level inquiry by a three-member team into the incident. The probe team would commence its work tomorrow, the northern railway said in New Delhi. “In view of the seriousness of the unfortunate incident, the Railway Ministry is contemplating ordering a judicial inquiry,” it said.

The ministry had also issued instructions to make on-the-spot ex gratia payment, the release said. Singh said the mishap took place when the roof of the loco shed gave way when a bulldozer was pulling down its eastern wall, trapping labourers and others.

Four cranes from the railways and one from army have been pressed to remove the debris, officials said.

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is in Calcutta, expressed deep anguish and grief over the incident. “It seems to be a matter of carelessness on the part of some employees” and stern action would be taken against those found guilty, she said. She also directed the Minister of State for Railway Digvijay Singh, who is in Patna, to rush to the spot.