Two passengers were killed and 47 others injured when eight bogies of the Tata-Bilaspur passenger train derailed after Maoists blew up railway tracks on Thursday night in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district.
Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee told PTI from Delhi that the train comprised 10 coaches of which five derailed and three toppled over as also the engine.
She said two bodies were found in a overturned bogie, while 47 passengers were injured. Six passengers were trapped in another capsized bogie.
Three passengers have been rescued so far as rescuers were using gas cutters to gain entry to the coaches, three of which were badly damaged, Ms. Banerjee said.
The blast occurred between Manohar and Posoita railway stations just in front of the engine of the train, some 20 minutes after a pilot engine had passed.
Ms. Banerjee said, “Maoists blew up a portion of a railway track which caused the derailment. There were also three to four blasts nearby to deter rescuers.”
Superintendent of Police (Rail) A.B. Homker told PTI in Ranchi, “Railway staff and rescue teams have reached the spot, and are cutting open the bogies to rescue the injured passengers.”
Helpline numbers
The railway authorities on Thursday night announced helpline numbers following the derailment of the Tata-Bilaspur passenger train.
The helpline numbers are: 06587238072 , 06572290324 and 06612570680 .
