Inquiry ordered into Coromandel Express mishap, 9 killed

A high-level inquiry has been ordered into the derailment of the Howrah-Chennai Coromandel Express in Orissa's Jajpur district in which authorities on Saturday, scaled down the toll from 15 to nine.

Minister of State for Railways R Velu, who visited the accident site near here, said a high-level probe into the accident would be conducted by the Commissioner of Railway Safety and the report would be submitted within seven days.

He said nine persons have been killed in the mishap that took place on Friday, when the Chennai-bound Coromandel Express from Howrah derailed while changing tracks near here.

"Nine bodies have been recovered from the site. A higher death toll was anticipated earlier on the basis of preliminary
assessment," Velu told reporters here.

He said only 45 of the injured passengers were admitted to different hospitals where the condition of six was stated to be critical. Most of the injured were discharged after first aid, he said.

Earlier, railway officials had put the toll at 16 passengers killed and 161 injured.

Velu said the men and machinery of the Railways and other agencies were working on a war-footing to clear the tracks to restore normal traffic on the important route within 48 hours.