Jharkhand: Toll rises to 7 in goods train accident

Latehar (Jharkhand), Jan 13: Rescue team fished out one more bodytaking the toll to seven, all believed to be coal thieves travellingunauthorisedly in a coal-laden goods train, and nine others wereinjured after the train fell into a river near Hehegada Railway Stationin the district yesterday.

Divisional Railway Manager Ajay Shukla today confirmed therecovery of seven till this afternoon and apprehended more might betrapped in the derailed bogies for which rescue operation was on.

Railway traffic was disrupted following the accident but by thisafternoon one line was cleared, officials monitoring rescue operationsaid adding effort was on to clear the second track.

As the train derailed yesterday between Hehegarha and Kumundihstations at about 1545 hrs the driver, assistant driver and guard wereinjured. Six others who were injured were all unauthorised travellers''with a mission to steal coal'', sources said.

According to authorities, among the seven bodies recovered so far none was railway employee.

Railway Protection Force, Government Railway Police along withvillagers carried out the rescue operation. Senior railway officials,including divisional rail manager of Dhanbad division, has rushed tothe spot.

The goods train was going to Panipat in Hariyana from Rai stationin Hazaibagh, railway officials said adding the engine and three otherbogies, including the guard's bogey, fell into the Kasba river.

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