Toll rises to seven as rescue continues at train accident site

Latehar, Jharkhand, Jan 13 (UNI) Rescue teams have recovered one more body, taking to seven so far the toll in the goods train accident near the Hehegada Railway station in the district yesterday.

All the victims are believed to be coal thieves travelling in the coal-laden goods train.

Nine others were also injured when the train fell into a river near the Hehegada Railway station.

Divisional Railway Manager Ajay Shukla today confirmed the recovery of seven bodies till this afternoon and apprehended more might be trapped in the derailed bogies for which the rescue operations were on.

Railway traffic was disrupted following the accident but by this afternoon one line was cleared, officials monitoring rescue operation said, adding that effort was on to clear the second track.

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

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

Railway Protection Force, Government Railway Police along with villagers carried out the rescue operation. Senior railway officials, including divisional rail manager of Dhanbad division, have rushed to the spot.

The goods train was going to Panipat in 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.

UNI