Indore-Patna Express accident toll close to 130; close to half likely from MP

Special Correspondent

NewsBits.in

Bhopal:  The Kanpur train tragedy involving the Indore-Patna Express was especially terrible news for Madhya Pradesh as close to half of the nearly 130 dead in the accident were likely from the state, sources said.

The exact number of fatalities from MP remained unavailable till late evening, but there were indications that close to 50% of the dead could be from the state.

By Sunday afternoon, railway authorities in MP confirmed to media that 42 persons who boarded from stations of Bhopal (7) and Ratlam (35) railway divisions had died in the mishap. The toll till then was 96.

By evening however, the toll had reached 127 and therefore there was apprehension that the fatalities from MP would rise sharply too. About 150 were seriously injured and hospitalized.

According to list issued by railway authorities in Bihar available with NewsBits.in, about 11 of the 34 victims of the mishap were from MP (five from Indore, two each from Bhopal and Gwalior and one each from Ujjain and Dewas).

Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan who rushed to Kanpur to meet the injured passengers also said that the maximum fatalities were from MP and Bihar.

Source said that more about 1500 passengers had boarded the train from Ratlam division stations and 177 from Bhopal division stations.

COMPENSATION

CM Chouhan has announced compensation of Rs two lakh each to kin of deceased and Rs 50,000 to each injured and provide free treatment to all.

The CM convened an emergency meeting to review help that could be extended to rescue and relief work. Chief Secretary BP Singh and Director General of Police Rishi Kumar Shukla were present.

Teams of doctors from Chhatarpur, Sagar and Datia and rescue team from Chhatarpur were sent to the spot. Datia collector and superintendent of police (SP) with water resources minister Dr Narottam Mishra also rushed.

CONTROL ROOM

A state control room (number 1079) has been set up in Bhopal to provide necessary assistance and information in this regard. The Chhatarpur district control room number is 07682-241500.

CONTACT

Name and mobile number of members of rescue team sent from Chhatarpur are:

CEO, District Panachayat Chandramohan Thakur - mobile no 9754538699

Adnl SP, Chhatarpur Neeraj Pandey -               mobile no 9425117846

SDM Bijawar Ravindra Chaukse            -                         mobile no 9826163083

Tehsildar Chhatarpur Alok Verma -                 mobile no 9425342434

District Commandant, Home Guard, Karan Singh - mobile no. 9425473927