25 killed as overbridge falls on coach of Jamalpur-Howrah express

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Bhagalpur, Dec 2 (UNI) At least 25 passengers were feared killed and about 30 others were injured when the dilapidated portion of an overbridge fell on the coach of the 3071 Up Jamalpur-Howrah super express train this morning.

Officials said that the 150-year-old overbridge was declared 'unsafe' and closed for vehicular traffic for the last two years. It finally collapsed today in the wake of almost constant jerks by train movement, with the debris falling on the two coaches About 60 passengers in the coach were trapped, of which 25 persons were feared killed and 30 others injured. Officials, however, wee tight-lipped on the exact number of fatalities.

Senior civil and railway officials, along with medical teams, rushed to the site and relief and rescue operations are on in full swing.

Meanwhile, two railway engineers, including the Deputy Chief Engineer of Eastern Railways, were placed under suspension while action would be taken against the contractor who was engaged for dismantling the dilapidated overbridge to facilitate reconstruction, railway sources disclosed.

Train services in Jamalpur-Sahibganj section of Maldah division of the ER were suspended since the accident, with several long-distance trains including Dibrugarh-Delhi Brahmaputra Mail, Bhagalpur-Delhi Bikramshila Express and Bhagalpur-Muzaffarpur Intercity Express, stranded at different stations. A number of local trains were cancelled.

Railway minister Lalu Prasad is likely to visit the accident site later in the day.

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