Utkal Express derailment: Traumatised survivors recount horror

Left shaken after surviving the deadly Utkal Express derailment, survivors of the tragedy are still coming to terms with their ordeal.

Recounting the tragedy, a survivor said, "It suddenly felt as if someone had pulled the chain and the very next moment, the train derailed and everything was in an uproar".

Another survivor, said, "I was in that train. And when the accident took place, within minutes the locals came to help. It was quite later that administrative officials came to our aid."

Blaming the underway construction work, another local claimed more deaths than the official record.

"The accident took place because of the construction. I believe that more than 50 have died and at least 500 people have been injured. The railway should have been more cautious," said a survivor.

Meanwhile, all the trains on the Meerut line have been cancelled or diverted till 6 p.m.

Affected rail route is expected to be cleared and traffic is likely to be restored by 7 p.m. today.

According to a statement by the Northern Railway, General Manager R.K. Kulshrestha is personally monitoring the relief work at site and Addl. General Manager, Northern Railway Manju Gupta is observing medical assistance work in the hospital personally.

Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha along with Member Traffic, Railway Board and DG/Health Railway Services had visited the accident site last night and directed senior railway officials to ensure proper and timely relief and rescue work and provide best possible medical assistance to affected passengers.

Manju Gupta, Addl. General Manager, Northern Railway along with Senior Doctors is personally monitoring the medical assistance to injured persons in Meerut and Muzaffarnagar hospital.

A total of 97 passengers have been injured and 23 passengers reported dead in this unfortunate accident.

Out of 97 injured persons, 26 passengers are grievously injured while 71 have simple injuries.

Many injured person has discharged after providing first aid assistance. Injured passengers have been admitted to Meerut and Muzaffarnagar Hospitals.

-ANI