There were some miraculous escapes during Tuesday’s tragedy. While the first and third bogie of the Hampi Express caught fire, those in the second bogie were lucky.
Many Bengaluru-bound passengers, who were unhurt, were brought to the city by the Rajdhani Express, Udyaan Express and buses as well.
“The second bogie was thrown in the air and it landed on general bogies two and three. Everyone escaped with minor injuries, but when we came out, it was a horrible sight,” said Mr Rahman who was travelling to Bengaluru from Bellary.
It was also a close call for Mr Narsimrallu. He had initially entered the first general compartment but since his friends were in the second bogie, he decided to join them. “I was in the first bogie but my friends called me over to the second bogie. I was sleeping when with a jerk I landed on the floor far away,” said Mr Narsimrallu who suffered injuries on his right leg.
It was also a miraculous escape for Mr Maula Sahab and his family.
“We usually travel by Hampi Express as my husband works in Varthur. We were sleeping under the seat when the train collided and the seat came down on us. My two-year old daughter too was under the seat. Her neck and face has been bruised,” said Mr Sahab’s wife Noorjahan.
because of the accident. My husband has also sustained some injuries on his hand and leg. But we have been saved. We reacted very fast to the accident and somehow managed to come out of the train which was a Herculean task,”
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ROY Announces ex-gratia, ORDERS PROBE
Age Correspondent
Penukonda, May 22
Railway minister Mukul Roy announced that an investigation had been ordered into the incident and action would be taken against those responsible.
Railway officials said that as the accident occurred when passengers were in deep sleep, they were woken by the impact of the collision. Many passengers, shocked by the huge sound and the scorching flames, jumped from the train.
A huge crane was rushed in from Bengaluru and the mangled bogies were removed from the track. Railway officials provided food and water to stranded passengers and a special train and APSRTC buses were arranged to move them to their destinations.
Mr Roy said that `5 lakh each would be paid as ex gratia to the kin of those died in the accident at the Penukonda railway station and one family member would be given a railway job, as he visited the accident site on Tuesday and consoled the bereaved family members and spoke to the injured.