3 bodies fished out, 10 still feared trapped in bogies

Latehar, Jharkhand, Jan 13 (UNI) With three bodies recovered so far, rescue teams worked overnight to trace about ten more victims who were feared trapped inside bogies of a coal-laden goods train that fell into a river near Hehegada Railway Station in this distict yesterday.

The driver, assistant driver and guard of the train received injuries in the accident. Among the bodies recovered so far none was a railway employee.

According to sources, the three victims were coal thieves and about ten other accomplices of the gang were apparently trapped in the guard's coach.

Railway Protection Force and Government Railway Police personal, along with villagers carried out the rescue operation.

Senior railway officials, including divisional rail manager of Dhanbad division, have rushed to the spot.

Railway traffic on the route was disrupted following the accident that ocurred at 1545 hrs.

The goods train was going to Panipat (Haryana) from Rai station in Hazaibagh, railway officials said adding the engine and three other bogies, including the guard's bogey, fell into the Kasba river.

Station Manager of nearby Barkakanna Railway Station T Murmu said engine driver U K Singh, Assistant Driver Sarvesh Kumar and Guard U K Pandey were also injured in the accident.

UNI