Toll mounts to 51 in Kalka mail accident, 247 injured

Fatehpur: Death toll in the derailment of 15 coaches of the 12311-UP Kalka Mail near Malwan yesterday has reached 51 as more bodies were recovered from the coaches during the night-long rescue operation which is continuing round the clock.Superintendent of Police Ram Bharose told that 51 people have died so far in the accident. Of which, 37 bodies were retrieved from the mangled coaches while 14 died at the hospital during treatment.
Mr Bharose said the rescue operation was still underway and more bodies could be recovered as the Army personnel are yet to search two sleeper coaches.
A body was recovered from a coach at 0615 hrs today while several others are still trapped inside other coaches particularly in S-1 and S-2.
A total of 247 people were injured in the accident of which 190 people have been admitted to the district hospital here.
Chief District Medical Superintendent Dr Rakesh Kumar said most of the critical patients have been shifted to Kanpur though several passengers were still in serious condition. More doctors and paramedical staffs have been called from nearby districts.
However, confusion prevailed over the reason behind the derailment of the coaches as the Railways has denied using emergency brakes by the drivers.
Union Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal, who visited the spot yesterday, and the passengers claimed that emergency brakes were used which led to the derailment.
Railway officials, camping on the spot, said the rescue operation will continue till late this afternoon and the tracks would be cleared by tonight.
North Central Railway General Manager H C Joshi said the tracks would be cleared by this evening but normal traffic would start only after repair of the trails and overhead electric wires which could take some more time.
He said Railway Safety Commissioner P K Vajpayee will probe into the accident.