Updated by admin on
Friday, February 13, 2015 04:51 PM IST
11 killed as Bengaluru-Ernakulam Express train der:
Bengaluru: At least 11 passengers died ad and over 60 others injured, some of them critically, when an Express train bound for Ernakulam in Kerala from Bengaluru derailed near Anekal, about 45 kms away here.
Bangalore Divisional Railway Manager Anil Kumar Agarwal, who rushed to the accident site, said the exact number of casualties would be known after some time.
An inquiry had been ordered to fix responsibility and for corrective action to prevent such unfortunate accidents.
Eight bogies of the train derailed after it struck a boulder that, according to railway officials, accidentally rolled onto the track in a mountainous section of the Salem line of the South Western Railway between the Anekal Road and Hosur railway stations on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border.
The accident occurred at around 7.33 am near the Bidaragere village around 40 km from Bangalore after the Inter City Express which runs daily between Bengaluru and Ernakulam left Bengaluru at 6.15 am.
Relief and rescue operations were on in full swing with medical teams from both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu on the spot. Police and Railway officials said efforts were being made to reach those trapped inside the derailed bogies.
Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force have been rushed to the spot. The injured were rushed to hospitals in nearby Hosur and Bengaluru, they said.
Helpdesks have been set up at Bangalore City Railway Station and at the accident site.
Bengaluru city helpdesk numbers are 080-22371166, 080-22156553, 080-22156554, 9731666751. Accident site number is 9448090599.
Karnataka Health Minister UT Khader said here that medical teams have been rushed from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
He said according to information available with state authorities, more than 50 people were injured.
The Union Railway Minister has announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakhs to the next of the kin who lost lives in the mishap, Rs 50,000 for grievously injured passengers and Rs 20,000 for those who sustained less injuries.
