28 die in twin train derailments in Madhya Pradesh
Railways announce a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the next of the kin of the deceased. Rs 50,000 to grievously injured and 25,000 for minor injuries.
Twin back-to-back train derailment took place at the same spot in Madhya Pradesh around midnight on Tuesday, with several bogies and engines of Varanasi-bound Kamayani Express and Mumbai-bound Janata Express falling into a swollen river. First pictures | Watch: How it happened
Here are the live updates:
11:31 am: Central railway sets up 4 helpline numbers. The numbers are: Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus 022-22694040, LTT 022-25280005, Thane 022-25334840 and 0251-2311499 at Kalyan.
10:06 am: Congress president Sonia Gandhi expresses shock and grief over the unfortunate incident of twin rail accidents killing & injuring people.
09:40 am: The toll touches 28.
09:25 am: We're providing all possible medical assistance at site. Medical teams from various cities have been rushed in to assist in rescue operations: Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
08:31 am: Twenty four bodies, including nine men, 10 women and five kids, have been recovered so far from the mishap site between Khirkiya and Harda stations , Madhya Pradesh Public Relation Department Commissioner Anupam Rajan said. The toll could further go up, he said.
08:09 am: Railways announce a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the next of the kin of the deceased. Rs 50,000 to grievously injured and 25,000 for minor injuries.
08:00 am: 20 people killed in twin train derailments in Harda: Madhya Pradesh govt
07:46 am: Enquiry ordered, ex-gratia to be paid immediately. Flooding of tracks due to very heavy downpour . Will make detailed statement to Parliament: Tweets Suresh Prabhu.
07:45 am: PM Modi tweets, "My prayers with the injured. Authorities are doing everything possible on the ground. The situation is being monitored very closely. The two train accidents in Madhya Pradesh are deeply distressing. Deeply pained over the loss of lives. Condolences to families of deceased."
07:35 am: Rs 2 lakh to the next of the kin of the deceased. Rs 50,000 to grievously injured and 25,000 for minor injuries.
04:00 am: Over 300 people have been rescued so far; nearly 40 are injured.
03:30 am: Rescuers said operations were being hampered by flooding in the area with officials working through the night, mostly in darkness.
03:00 am: All private and government hospitals in Harda were alerted and made ready to accommodate the victims.
02:30 am: IB Siddiqui, a spokesperson for the West Central Railway, said that Janata Express also derailed within minutes of the first accident while crossing the same bridge over the Machak river. The train was on its way to Mumbai from Jabalpur. He added that "two-four bogies of the train have fallen into the Machak river and due to rain and darkness it may take hours to confirm the casualties".
02:00 am: Trains from Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh were temporarily stopped. Sources said some of the trains may be diverted via Rajasthan-Kota route.
01:53 am: "Rushing emergency medical & other relief personnel to spot. darkness,water creating hurdles but ordered all possible help. Trying our best," Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu tweeted after the accident.
01:43 am: Kamayani Express, which runs between Mumbai's Lokmanya Tilak Terminus station to Varanasi Junction in Uttar Pradesh, was derailed around midnight near Khiriya village in Harda district, about 160 km from here, Superintendent of Police Prem Babu Sharma said.