8 passengers of Bokoro Express run over by train
Vizianagaram: Rumours of fire led to panic and passengers jumped out of a train without noticing the oncoming train Eight people were run over by a train at Gotlam station, 10 km from Vizianagaram district on Saturday evening.
Following strong rumours that flames with thick smoke engulfed S-1 coach, some passengers forcibly stopped the Allepy-Bokaro express at Gotlam by pulling chain.
As the fear-gripped people began jumping off from the stationary coach, eight unfortunate ones came under the oncoming Rayagada-Vijayawada passenger train on the second track. One person Karupasi, 30, was severely injured.
The deceased were identified as Alexus Tapno (27) from Bihar, Sweta Singh (33) from Aurangabad, her daughter Samhita Kumari (10) and son
Sowrya Kumar (2), Taradevi (34) from Jharkhand, Kartik Sahu (76) hailing from Balangir in Odisha, Lokendra Kumar (28) from Dhanbad in Jharkhand, and Aadiraju (60) from Bobbili in Vizianagaram district. The relatives said the ill-fated were going to their places to celebrate Diwali.
Those injured are recovering at the government hospital in Vizianagaram. Vizianagaram. On Sunday, the officials of Waltair Railway Division of East Coast Railway and the Government Railway Police (GRP) on Sunday handed over seven bodies to their family members after postmortem.
A special coach of Alleppy-Bokaro express was engaged to take them to their native areas. The body of Aadiraju, belonging to Seetanagaram near Bobbili, was shifted by road as requested by the family members.
Waltair Divisional Railway Manager Anil Kumar ordered a probe into the mishap. The probe will investigate all angles including circumstances that led to 'chain pulling', ground for reports of flames in S1 coach and also reasons for frequent 'chain pulling' incidents in the area.
Minister P Balaraju visited the Railway Hospital where the bodies were kept, and consoled family members of the deceased. Regreting the tragedy, he said he would initiate necessary steps for payment of ex-gratia.
News Posted: 3 November, 2013
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