Bihar train derailments: 4 dead, 23 injured as Rajdhani Express and Goods train derail; Bihar CM rules out sabotage

At least four passengers were killed and 23 others injured, 13 of them seriously, when 12 coaches of the Dibrugarh-bound Rajdhani Express derailed near Chapra in Bihar's Saran district today, with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh saying it was too early to blame the Maoists for the incident. 18 wagons of a goods train also derailed due to a blast in east Champaran district with the SP Vinay Kumar not ruling out the involvement of Maoists.

The incident occurred around 2:15 am when five coaches - B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4 and pantry car - overturned in the derailment while seven other coaches - B-5 to B-10 and the power car - got derailed at the station, about 75 kms from Patna, according to Railway spokesperson Anil Saxena. "72 trains have been affected due to this accident, 25 of which have been cancelled," he added.

While three passengers died on the spot, another succumbed to injuries in a hospital later, Chief Public Relation Officer of East Central Railway (ECR) Arvind Kumar Rajak said. Gowda expressed grief over the loss of lives in the mishap. He directed the Railway administration to render best possible treatment to the injured passengers. Rajak said some of the coaches were hurled as far as 700 feet away from the track. Read more

Even 8 hours after the major rail accident in Chapra, Bihar's Health Minister Ramdhani Singh was not aware of the incident. Singh said he had no information about the incident. On being informed by Zee Media, the Singh then assured every possible help to the victims.

PM Narendra Modi condoles loss of lives in Rajdhani derailment
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday condoled the loss of lives in the Delhi-Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express mishap. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condoled the loss of lives due to the accident of the Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express. He prays for the speedy recovery of the injured," a PMO release said. Read more

The PM has condoled the loss of lives due to the accident of the Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express. He prays for the speedy recovery of the injured

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 25, 2014

PM is in touch with the Railway Minister, who updated the PM on the relief work at the accident site.

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 25, 2014

Sadanand Gowda arrives in Patna to review Dibrugarh Express derailment site
Railway Minister Sadanand Gowda here today arrived in Patna to take a stock of the accident site in Chhapra where the Delhi-Dibrugarh Express had derailed. However, Gowda refused to comment on the situation over the involvement of Maoists in the accident. "We are just in Patna on our way to the accident site. It is too early to comment on anything right now. I can speak upon the reasons of the accident only after discussing with my officers and getting all the particulars," said Gowda. Read more 

Rajiv Pratap Rudy briefs PM Narendra Modi about train derailment; hints at Maoist hand
Senior BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy today briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the derailment of the Dibrugarh-bound Rajdhani Express in Bihar, while later stating that it could be the handiwork of Maoists. "I briefed the Prime Minister about the details related to the train accident, including rescue and relief work and evacuation of stranded passengers by the district administration and the railway authorities," Rudy, the Saran MP, told from the spot where he was camping since 4.30 am. The Prime Minister was keen to know about the relief work during the 10 minute conversation, he said. Read more

SABOTAGE?
While the exact reason of the derailment is yet to ascertained, railway authorities and the Bihar police have differed over sabotage as a possible cause. "Reasons are said to have been sabotage and there was a bandh called by Maoists... that is why it occurred is what I have understood but the exact reasons aren't known," Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda said.  "Sabotage is not the cause behind the accident," said Vinod Kumar, Director General of Police, Saran. Three timer bombs were also found 25 km from the spot where the train mishap took place.

However, railways suspected sabotage by Maoists behind the derailment. "Prima facie, it appears to be a case of sabotage. There was a blast on the track, which could have caused the derailment," Railway Board Chairman Arunendra Kumar told PTI in Delhi. "Another goods train, 60 kms away from the station, also got derailed due to a blast. 18 wagons got derailed in the accident," Kumar said. The Maoists have given bandh call today to protest "strong armed" action by security forces against "innocent people" in the area on suspicion of being Maoists sympathiser. Read more 

Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi rules out Maoist role in Rajdhani mishap
Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi today ruled out the involvement of Maoists in the Rajdhani Express derailment in Chapra which left four persons dead and said the incident appears to be a result of "error" on the part of Railways. "Prima facie it does not appear to be the handiwork of Maoists in the Rajdhani derailment at Chapra," he told reporters. He ruled out "sabotage" by Maoists as the cause behind the derailment of New Delhi-Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express. "No trace of blast on the track or any other evidence suggesting sabotage has been found so far," he said. Read more

Too early to blame Naxals for Rajdhani derailment: Home Minister Rajnath Singh
Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said it was too early to blame the Maoists for the derailment of the Delhi-Dibrugarh Rajdhani in Bihar that left four persons dead. "I have spoken directly to rail officials on the spot. The Prime Minister has been informed regarding all developments. Even he agrees that it is too early to blame the Naxals. Let us wait for further report on the incident," he told reporters in New Delhi. Read more

ALSO READ: A night to forget; Rajdhani passengers recount horror of Bihar train derailment
Recounting the fear and shock following the derailment of the Rajdhani Express, passengers of the the New Delhi-Dibrugarh train today said it was a "night to forget". Read more

ANOTHER GOODS TRAIN ALSO DERAILS
"Another goods train, 60 kms away from the station, also got derailed due to a blast. 18 wagons got derailed in the accident," Kumar said. The Maoists have given bandh call to protest security forces' "strong armed" action against "innocent people" in the area on suspicion of being Maoists sympathiser. Kumar said Railway has ordered an enquiry to be conducted by Commissioner Railway Safety, Eastern Circle to know the causes of the accident. Read more

Expressing grief over the loss of lives in the mishap, Gowda has announced a compensation of Rs. two lakh for those killed, one lakh for the grievously injured and Rs. 20,000 for those who sustained minor injuries. The minister also directed the Railway administration to provide the best possible treatment to the injured passengers.

Senior officials of the East Central Railway and a medical team, meanwhile, are supervising relief and rescue operations at the site. Railway medical teams have reached the spot even as the injured are bineg rushed to nearby hospitals.  The railways has announced an exgratia compensation of Rs two lakh to the kin of those dead. The seriously injured passengers will get Rs one lakh each while those with minor injuries will receive Rs 20000 each. 

Trains affected:
Trains diversion/canellation/ short termination & short origination due to to derailment of IDBR/RXL in between MAI-CAA(MFP-BMKI section in SPJ division & 12236 derailment at CI-GJH in SEE division A)

Helpline numbers: 

Chapra – 06152-43409 

Hajipur – 06224 -272230 

Muzaffarpur – 0621 – 2213034 

New Delhi - 011-23342954 

First published on Zee News