Over 100 dead as train falls into river

Many of the dead are believed to have been in bogie number two, the ladies compartment, while several survivors who managed to clamber on top of their bogies waited for four hours to be rescued. The train was carrying largely agricultural workers, labourers and factory workers.

Railway officials said 88 bodies had been recovered till 7 pm. The toll is expected to cross 120 as several people, especially women and children, are believed to have been carried by the water flow.

As many as 46 bodies recovered by a team comprising Army officials, Naval divers, local police and villagers were brought to Hyderabad in the evening. The bodies have been kept at the Gandhi Hospital mortuary for identification. Only three have been identified so far. Around 42 bodies have been kept at Nalgonda Hospital, 20 km from the accident spot.

‘‘At least 100 people have been killed. Most bodies have been recovered. We expect the toll to go up by 15 to 20. Naval divers will fish for more bodies. We will cut through the compartments also,” senior divisional commissioner for railway security Sanjay Sankaranya said.

The railway authorities transported 34 injured to the Railway Hospital at Secunderabad while 39 people were treated for minor injuries at Nalgonda.

The flash floods were caused after heavy rain led to breach in four tanks in the area. The water from these tanks spilled into the rivulet, washing away the railway bridge.

Despite the Railway setting up emergency cells all along the route of the Delta Express, relatives of those on the train were at their wit’s end trying to ascertain their fate. The railways could only provide a list of 73 injured passengers throughout the day.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Shivraj Patil today spoke to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and assured help. Naval divers have been moved from Visakhapatnam.