20 injured in train mishap

More than 20 people were injured when the Hubli-Miraj passenger derailed near Karikatti-Tummarguddi Cross between Suldhal and Sulebhavi stations in Belgaum taluk on Monday.

 The engine and four of the eight bogies of the train, which left Belgaum railway station at 5 pm, derailed at 5.10 pm. All the injured have been admitted to hospitals in Belgaum and Gokak.

 The train is said to have derailed after the earth which was excavated for laying a gas pipeline caved in following heavy rains for three days. Belgaum Deputy Commissioner Anbukumar said an investigation would reveal the cause of the accident. The rains and darkness marred relief works.

 Though the administration rushed 10 ambulances to ferry the injured to hospitals, they had to be parked a kilometre away from the train due to lack of road connectivity.

 The district administration has also arranged 10 buses to shift passengers. Later defence personnel also joined in the rescue operations.

 Shivananda Kanburgi (22), a passenger who escaped without injuries, told Express that he suddenly felt the train jump the tracks and heard a loud noise and people crying.

 He said he saw a person trapped under a bogie, crying for help. Another eyewitness, Rayangouda Patil, said the train was filled with people.

 Minister of State for Railways K H Muniyappa, visited the spot and instructed officials to expedite relief operations. He also ordered an inquiry into the incident.

 Muniyappa told reporters that a Railway Safety Committee would visit the accident spot on Tuesday and submit a report on which action would be taken. Later, he visited the Belgaum District Hospital and consoled the injured. He said those with major injuries would be given a compensation of Rs 1 lakh, and those with minor ones, Rs 25,000.

 With the accident, the flagging off of the Miraj-Yeshwantpur Express by the minister, which was scheduled for 11.30 am on Tuesday, is likely to be cancelled. Following the accident, several trains were cancelled or diverted. Some of the trains are: Yeshwantpur- Dadar (Train No.11018) diverted via Gadag Bijapur; Bangalore-Jothpur (Train No.16508) diverted via Hubli Gadag and Bijpapur; Bangalore-Kolhapur (Train No.16589) departing from the origin at 9.10 pm will only travel only up to Belgaum.