More than 30 dead in burning train in India

[John Ashworth]

More than 30 dead in burning train in India
HYDERABAD, INDIA Aug 01 2008 16:35
Mail & Guardian

At least 32 people were killed after a train caught fire in southern India early on Friday, a government statement said.

Eight others were injured in the accident and have been taken to a local hospital for treatment, the statement by the Federal Railway Ministry said.

The fire broke out in a sleeper coach of the train and spread to four other coaches, the statement said, but gave no reason for the start of the blaze.

Local police official VC Sajjanar had said earlier that the Gautami Express caught fire early on Friday morning while it was roughly 200km north of Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh state.

Sajjanar said the fire appeared to have been caused by a short-circuit in the train's wiring.

He said the passengers pulled a chain to stop the train as soon as the fire erupted, and some travellers jumped out of the coaches.

Accidents are frequent on India's rail network, which is one of the world's largest. Most of the accidents are blamed on poor maintenance. -- Sapa-AP


Train fire kill 32 passengers in sleep in Andhra
Hindu Times
Friday, August 1, 2008 : 2020 Hrs

Warangal (PTI): At least 32 passengers were charred to death, most of them in sleep, and eight injured when the speeding Secunderabad-Kakinada Gouthami Express train caught fire in Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh in the wee hours on Friday.

The fire broke out in a sleeper coach at 0115 hours near Kesamudram railway station, about 200 km. from Hyderabad, and soon spread to four other bogies leading to heavy casualties, Chief PRO of South Central Railways P Krishnaiah told reporters. With the train moving at a speed of 100 km. per hour, the fire, which broke out in S-9 coach spread rapidly billowing out large plumes of smoke.

The tragedy struck when the passengers were fast asleep making it impossible for many of them to escape from the blaze. Such was the impact of the raging fire that the bodies of some of the passengers were charred beyond recognition, making it difficult for authorities to ascertain the exact number of casualties. Some passengers died due to suffocation.

As forensic experts inspected the badly-mangled coaches, there are fears that the toll may go up as a heap of skeletons, skulls and burnt flesh still remained to be cleared.

The dead included a pregnant woman and three physically-challenged persons who could not escape the blaze even as many others jumped out of the running train. According to preliminary investigation, an electric short-circuit could have led to the fire.

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav announced an inquiry into the incident by the Commissioner of Railway Safety to establish the cause of fire. the Commissioner would submit a report at the earliest. Forensic experts are also examining the cause of the fire, he said. "Till now no proof of sabotage or use of explosive has come to our notice. However, the inquiry report will establish the cause of the fire", he said.

The Railway Minister announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakhs and a job to the next kin of each victim killed. Those seriously injured will get Rs one lakh each, he said. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy announced a compensation of Rs one lakh to the kin of those killed.

The charred bogies have been brought to Kesamudram railway station where forensic experts examined them. DNA tests would be conducted on the charred remains of the passengers to ascertain their identity.

Passengers said a plume of smoke engulfed the affected coaches and scenes of chaos prevailed. Some people did manage to jump out of the running train.

"We were fast asleep. Suddenly we heard a commotion and I saw people running helter skelter. There was fire in the bogie and it was spreading fast," a woman passenger said, recounting the ordeal.

While many passengers jumped to safety, three among a group of six physically-challenged persons from East Godavari district, who were returning home after attending a training camp in Hyderabad, could not.

In all, five bogies were burnt. The worst affected coach was S-10. Rescue teams from Secunderabad, Kazipet and Vijayawada had a tough time reaching to the site in the deep forest area.