Seemanchal Express Derailment: Seven Dead, PM Expresses Grief
11 coaches of the Delhi-bound Seemanchal Express derailed in Vaishali district of Bihar on Sunday morning.
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Seven people died on Sunday, 3 February, after eleven coaches of Delhi-bound Seemanchal Express derailed in Vaishali district of Bihar, railway officials told PTI. At least 24 people have been injured in the accident.
- The accident took place at 3:58 am in Sahadai Buzurg
- A general coach, an AC coach B3, three sleeper coaches – S8, S9, S10 and four more coaches derailed
- Railways has issued helpline numbers – Sonpur 06158221645, Hajipur 06224272230 and Barauni 06279232222
- Indian Railways has issued helpline numbers at Patna-06122202290, 06122202291, 06122202292, 06122213234
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6 Die as 9 Coaches of Seemanchal Express Derail in Bihar
Six people died on Sunday, 3 February, after nine coaches of the Delhi-bound Seemanchal Express derailed in Vaishali district of Bihar, railway officials told PTI.
“We are focusing on rescue and relief operations right now. Railway Accident Medical van, along with team of doctors, are at site. Two teams of NDRF have also reached the spot,” Smita Vats Sharma, Additional Director General PR (Rail) told ANI.
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar Expresses Grief
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has expressed grief over the Seemachal Express derailment and has directed the administration to provide adequate assistance for rescue and relief operations, reported ANI.
Visuals From The Accident Site
All Passenger Trains on The Route Cancelled
All passenger trains on the route have been cancelled after Seemachal Express derailed in Bihar's Sahadai Buzurg earlier this morning.
Trains for Chapra have been diverted via Muzaffarpur (MFP)-Chapra, reported ANI.
Railway Min Goyal Expresses Grief
Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal is reportedly in touch with Railway Board members and General Manager of East Central Railway (ECR) regarding the accident.
“He has expressed profound grief over loss of innocent lives in this tragic accident and wished speedy recovery for injured,” reported ANI.
24 People Injured
A least 24 people have been injured in the accident, Superintendent of Police Manavjit Singh Dhillon told PTI.
The injured were rushed to a hospital here, where the doctors referred the seriously wounded to Muzaffarpur and Patna.
Death Toll Touches Seven
One more person has died in the train derailment, taking the death toll to seven, reported ANI.
Railways Announces Ex-gratia, to Pay Medical Expenses of Those Injured
The Railways announced that they would give ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakhs each to the kin of every deceased, Rs. 1 lakh to the grievously injured and Rs. 50,000 to those who suffered minor injuries.
All medical expenses will also be borne by the Railways, reported ANI.
PM Modi Expresses Grief Over Train Derailment
Bihar Govt Announces Ex-Gratia of Rs 4 Lakh For Family of Deceased
The Bihar government has announced ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the kin of every deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured.
Six Victims Identified: SDRF
The State Disaster Response Force told ANI that the identities of 6 out of the seven victims have been ascertained.
“Three are from Bengal and Khagaria (Bihar) each. The state government has done the arrangements for the bodies to be sent to their families in Bengal and Khagaria after post-mortem,” an official said.
Rahul Gandhi Expresses Condolences
"I am deeply pained by the Bihar train accident. I express my deepest condolences and grief for the families who have suffered in the accident," Congress President Rahul Gandhi said in a Facebook post.
Govt and Opposition Blame Each Other
Opposition leaders in Bihar on Sunday squarely blamed the Narendra Modi government at the Centre for the train mishap at Vaishali district where the Delhi-bound Seemanchal Express jumped the tracks killing six people.
However, former Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan hit back claiming that rail tracks across the country were under tremendous pressure because of "reckless increase in number of bogies" that took place while RJD supremo Lalu Prasad was the railway minister.
"This government has misplaced priorities. It is trying to introduce bullet trains, running at very high speeds with the help of sophisticated technology. On the other hand, there is a crying need for proper upkeep of ordinary trains like the Seemanchal Express," Loktantrik Janta Dal leader and former Union minister Sharad Yadav said.
Former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi also held the Modi government responsible for the mishap and demanded a hefty compensation of "Rupees one crore to the next of the kin of each deceased and Rs 20 lakh to each injured passenger." Bihar Congress working president Kaukab Qadri issued a statement seeking the resignation of Railway Minister Piyush Goyal.