Lalu orders inquiry into train accident
Patna, Dec 2: Railway Minister Lalu Prasad has ordered an inquiry into the accident of the Howrah-Jamalpur express train near Bhagalpur this morning, in which 25 people were killed.
He also asked the railway officials to book the contractor engaged to dismantle the dilapidated portion of the overbridge that crumbled over the train.
Railway sources here said that on orders from the minister, the Railway Safety Commissioner (Eastern Zone) would conduct the enquiry.
Mr Prasad also asked the Eastern Railway officials to file FIR against the contractor, who was awarded the job of dismantling the 150-year-old 'distressed' ''Ultapul'' to facilitate reconstruction, sources added.
Railway officials, however, did not confirm the visit of Mr Prasad to the accident site, who is in Katihar now to campaign for the UPA candidate for Manihari assembly by-election.
An ER release from Kolkata said the accident occurred at 0750 hours when the third arch of the 140-year-old bridge fell on sleper coach No-S-8 (11th from the engine).
ER's General Manager S S Khurana, who was at Chittaranjan, rushed to the accident site along with other senior officials.
The helpline numbers are: Bhagalpur 0641-1072 Jamalpur- 06344-1072 Malda - 03512-1012 Howrah- 033-26501660.
UNI
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