S Rly to intensify checks for crackers in trains: GM

Southern Railway will conduct intensified drive against carrying crackers in trains during the Deepavali season, its General Manager, M.S. Jayanth, has said.

After visiting victims of Tuesday's blast at Sholavandan Railway station at the Government Rajaji hospital here, Mr. Jayanth said that carrying of explosive materials in trains is not allowed and it is a punishable offence.

Stating that ticket checking squads were supposed to check for explosives, he said special drive would be conducted in the entire zone. "People may hide the crackers if the checking staff goes in their uniform. So we will deploy people in civvies," he said.

Mr. Jayanth, who arrived here by a special train on Wednesday, said that mostly people were carrying the crackers in passenger trains, as the fare in the express train were costlier and hence the checks would be focussed on passenger trains. The security agencies would join the ticket checking squads, he said.

The General Manager announced a solatium of Rs. 15,000 to the kin of the deceased and Rs. 5,000 for those seriously injured and Rs. 500 for thsoe who sustained simple injuries.

The police would investigate into the "sabotage" angle of the incident, he said.

Two persons were killed and 10 other injured in a blast that occurred on the railway platform at Sholavandan station on Tuesday evening.