BOLT FROM THE BLUE: Crowds throng the site where work is on to remove debris on the track and rescue passengers trapped in a train coach on which a pedestrian bridge collapsed in Bhagalpur on Saturday. — AP

PATNA: At least 37 passengers, including 15 women and two children, were killed and 50 injured when a condemned road overbridge collapsed on the Howrah-Jamalpur Express passing near the Bhagalpur station in Bihar on Saturday.

The 140-year-old bridge was abandoned a few months ago after the construction of a new one. Government authorities claimed that they had written to the Railways, asking it to pull down the bridge. The first two phases of the process were completed.

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad admitted "criminal negligence" on the part of the Engineering Department in allowing the passage of the train. He ordered the filing of a criminal case and the suspension and dismissal of those responsible for the tragedy. A deputy chief engineer and an assistant engineer, supervising the demolition, were placed under suspension. The Commissioner of Safety, Eastern Division, has been asked to probe the accident.

Train services in the Patna-Guwahati and Patna-Malda sections were suspended. Most trains were cancelled, while some others were diverted.

On Thursday evening, one of the arches of the bridge gave way, throwing train services into disarray for over eight hours. The services resumed on Friday. But within 24 hours, the tragedy struck. Workers at the site reportedly cautioned against the train passing through the third span of the viaduct, as the bridge became unstable following the demolition of two arches.

The train, it is said, halted ahead of the bridge and approached the station after the engineers gave the signal. The pillars shook in the impact and the pier and the arch caved in. The falling mass of debris crushed a portion of coach S-8. The rescue work, which started after a long delay, progressed at snail's pace. Local authorities did not have the equipment to extricate the trapped and dead passengers.The dead included an NCC cadet and a young boy engaged in the rescue operation. Mr. Prasad announced a compensation of Rs. 1 lakh to the kin of each of the deceased, besides employment to a family member.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar held the Railways responsible for the tragedy. He accused Mr. Prasad of basking in the glory of raking in profits without paying due attention to routine and safety work.

President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Congress president Sonia Gandhi have expressed grief over the tragedy.

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