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MATHURA (UP): Overshooting a signal, Delhi-bound Goa Express today rammed into the last bogie of the stationary Mewar Express killing 22 people,
Trains collide including the guard and two pantry car staff, and injuring an equal number near here in the wee hours. ( Watch Video )

The Goa Sampark Kranti Express hit the Udaipur City- Hazrat Nizamuddin Mewar Express, which is said to have been halted on chain pulling by some passengers, between Mathura and Vrindavan at around 0430 hours after its driver apparently ignored the signal.

The guard of Mewar Express and two staff members of the pantry car of Goa Express were among those killed while 13 of the injured have received grievous wounds. Five of the seriously injured were rushed to Delhi by train for treatment.

The unreserved second class-cum-luggage rake, at the rear end of the train bore the brunt of the collision and a number of people trapped in it were recovered by personnel of the army, police and fire services.

The luggage section of the coach probably prevented heavier casualties among the women and children who were in the coach.

Railway Minister Mamta Banerjee has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to families of each of the dead, Rs 1 lakh to those seriously injured and Rs 10,000 for those with minor injuries.

Railway officials said the driver of the Goa Express was either over-speeding or may have jumped the signal. Both the driver R K Chaturvedi and assistant driver Lakshmikant have been taken off duty and an inquiry by Commissioner of Railway Safety (North-East) has been ordered.

Banerjee said the investigation would also cover whether there was any chain pulling by passengers.

“Prima facie the driver of the Goa Express disregarded the signal…Either he did not stop the train at the signal or did not proceed on a cautious speed,” Deputy Regional Manager of Railways, Agra zone, R D Tripathi told reporters.

UP Minister Laxminarain Choudhry said a compensation of Rs 10 lakh would be given to the family of the deceased and a job.

Two bogies at the rear of the Mewar Express, which was on its way to Delhi, derailed due to the impact of the accident. The pantry car of the Goa Express also suffered damage.

Several trains were temporarily diverted after the mishap and the track was cleared at around 2 PM for normal traffic with the help of a large number of railway workers. Heavy machinery was used to remove the damaged and derailed bogies.

About 150 personnel of the Army, whose help was also sought, assisted the railway staff in clearing the track.

Gas and foam cutters were used to extricate the trapped passengers, including women and children, from the mangled bogie.

The Mewar Express, from which the damaged bogie was detached, left for Delhi with the passengers about five hours after the accident. Some of the passengers were also accommodated in buses.

All the trapped passengers have been extricated, Sri Prakash, Member (Traffic) Railway Board said.

Giving an account of the mishap, a passenger of the Mewar Express said, “There was a loud bang. We were suddenly thrown out of our seats. People and luggage from the upper berths fell on us and there was panic all around.

“There was almost a stampede inside the bogie. People sleeping on the upper berths fell off on those occupying lower berths,” said the middle-aged passenger, who was lucky to survive the crash with no injury.

A distraught woman passenger, injured in the accident, said from her hospital bed that she was fast asleep when the unreserved compartment of the Mewar Express train was hit.

“I could not move my legs. Bags and suitcases fell on me after a loud thud,” she said. Passengers said the collision occurred minutes after the Goa Express changed track.

An eye-witness, Ramesh Charan, 40, said he saw the speeding Goa Express crashing into the last coach of the stationary train and rushed to the accident site to lend a helping hand.

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The period of insurance will be for one year from 14th January, 2009 (starting from midnight of 13th January, 2009).

All claims will be settled centrally directly by M/s Cholamandalam MS General Insurance company Ltd.

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The Toll free Number of call Center for intimation of claims as under: -

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Call Center executive will explain the claims procedure, documents and all queries of the subscribers. Further List of pending documents (if any) will be intimated to the claimant within 7 days of receipt of original claim documents.

Note :

The time limit fixed for submission of claims by BSNL customers shall be 60 days from the date of occurrence of accident.

The insurance Co. will settle the claim within 14 working days from the date receipt of the complete document relating to claim.

Insurance claims for incident occurred upto 13.01.2009 (to be submitted within 60 days from the incident) is to be submitted to M/s. Bajaj Allianz in their prescribed form.>>

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