Army joins civil authorities in rescue operations at train accident site in Mathura
21 Oct 2009, 1550 Hrs

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Mathura, Oct.21 Army and civil authorities are carrying out rescue and salvage operations at the train accident site at Mathura in Uttar Pradesh in which at least 15 persons reportedly died and many others suffered injuries.

The accident occurred in the wee hours of the morning on Wednesday (October 21) when the New Delhi-bound Goa Express rammed into the rear part of a stationary train, Mewar Express at 5.00 a.m (local time) near Mathura city.

The wounded have been rushed to nearby hospitals.

The last bogie of the Mewar Express was completely damaged as the locomotive of the Goa Express telescoped into it.

According to R D Tripathi, the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), North Central Railway's Agra Division, prima facie the train driver of the Goa Express had disregarded signals.

"The Goa Express train rammed into the Mewar Express train from behind, this is the situation prima facie. A coach of the Mewar Express was damaged, whereas, there has been damage in the pantry car of the Goa Express. As per the figures we have received till now four have been killed whereas 12 have been injured. The bodies are still being extracted," said R D Tripathi, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), North Central Railway's Agra Division.

Senior railway officials reached the place of incident to oversee the rescue operations while the injured passengers were sent to the nearby hospitals

Meanwhile, platoons of Indian Army also rushed to the incident site to assist in the rescue and salvage operations including medical aid. The army personnel extended their technical expertise in freeing the trapped victims.

"The army platoons helped in bogey-cutting, medical care and other technical and engineering tasks.

They reached on time and many casualties could be avoided because of that. The people that were stuck inside the train have been rescued. And the help that we have received from the civil administration especially in clearing the crowd of onlookers, has been helpful in avoiding many casualties," said Brigadier Mahendra Kumar of Indian Army, overseeing the rescue operations.

Victims were still being extracted out of the train when last reports came in.

Meanwhile, the Union Railway Minister Mamta Banerjee has ordered a probe into the train accident in Mathura. (ANI)

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