18 killed as passenger train derails on Konkan route

Raigad: At least 18 people were killed and 30 injured when a passenger train derailed on Konkan Railway route in Maharashtra's Raigad district today. The accident occurred just outside a tunnel near Nidi village, when the engine and four out of 20 bogies of Diwa-Sawantwadi passenger train derailed at around 10 AM between Nagothane and Roha railway stations, about 120 kms from Mumbai.Rescue operations were going on, police said, adding that workers were trying to extricate people trapped under bogies that overturned after derailment.According to Raigad police control room, 12 passengers were killed and 30 injured in the mishap which occurred in a remote area. However, a Railway spokesperson put the death toll at nine. Ten bodies have been sent to Nagothane primary health centre for postmortem. The bodies are yet to be identified. Two bodies have been taken to government hospital at Roha for autopsy, police said.Following the mishap, services on Konkan Railway route were suspended. Last month too, a goods train derailed on the route, affecting services.The injured passengers are being rushed to Roha for medical treatment, police said.Railways ordered an inquiry and Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge announced an ex-gratia of Rs two lakh for those killed in the accident, Rs 50,000 for the grievously hurt and Rs 10,000 for passengers who suffered minor injuries. Railway Board Chairman Arunendra Kumar said Commissioner, Railway Safety, Chetan Bakshi will conduct the inquiry and has rushed to the site.The Chairman along with Advisor, Health, B B Agarawal are also visiting the accident site.Railways has also started two helpline—Thane—022-25334840 and Panwel--022-27468.Meanwhile, the railway authorities said in a statement that some trains have been diverted and a few partially cancelled because of the derailment.Some of the trains which were diverted are Madgaon Mandovi Express, Ernakulam Mangala Express, Thiruvananthapuram Netravati Express, Hapa-Tirunelveli Express, Mangalore Matsyagandha Express, Hazrat Nizamuddin-Ernakulam Express and Dadar-Sawantwadi Holiday Special.Besides, Dadar-Ratnagiri Passenger has been partially cancelled between Dadar and Roha and will leave from Roha, while Ratnagiri-Dadar has been partially cancelled between Roha and Dadar, the statement said.