Fire in Tamil Nadu Express kills 47

Fire in Tamil Nadu Express kills 47

July 30, 2012

At least 47 passengers were charred to death and 26 others injured when a fire broke in a coach of the Chennai-bound Tamil Nadu Express near Nellore in the wee hours on Monday due to a short circuit.
A Coach of Tamilnadu Express Catches Fire Near Nellore Station in Andhra Pradesh
32 Dead and 25 Injured in the Accident.There was an unfortunate incident of fire in train no. 12622 New Delhi-Chennai Tamilnadu Express at Nellore station (Andhra Pradesh) of Vijayawada Division of South Central Railway at about 0422 hours today i.e. 30^th July 2012.   While the train was on run, fire broke out in Sleeper Class Coach S-11, positioned 20^th from train engine.  As a result of the fire, this coach got completely burnt.  As per latest information received, 32 passengers lost their lives in this unfortunate incident, 25 passengers with burn injuries have been admitted to Government Hospital, Nellore and a nearby private hospital.  The dead bodies are yet to be identified.
According to reports, while the train was passing Nellore Station, Gateman of Level Crossing Gate noticed the fire in S-11 coach and informed Dy. Station Superintendent of Nellore who managed to stop the train after the Old South Cabin of Nellore Station.
Medical relief was immediately dispatched through Accident Relief Medical Train from Bitragunta station.  Fire Brigades from Nellore reached the site and extinguished the fire.  General Manager, South Central Railway from Secunderabad and Divisional Railway Manager, Vijayawada has rushed to the site along with team of officers to supervise the relief and rescue operations. Helpline numbers were also set up at important stations all along the route of the ill-fated train.  A special train carrying relatives of affected passengers was also arranged from Chennai to Nellore.

        The Minister of Railways, Shri Mukul Roy rushed to the accident site from Kolkata while the Minister of State for Railways, Shri K. H. Muniyappa rushed to the accident site from Kolar(Karnataka), Chairman, Railway Board, Shri Vinay Mittal with Member Electrical, Shri Kul Bhushan rushed to the accident site from Delhi by first available flight.           
The Minister of Railways, Shri Mukul Roy expressed his deep grief over the loss of innocent lives in this unfortunate tragedy.   He announced an enhanced ex-gratia amount  of Rs. 5/-  lakh to the next of the kin of each deceased, Rs. 1/- lakh for grievously injured and Rs. 25,000/- for simple injured passenger of the affected coach on humanitarian ground.  Shri Mukul Roy,
The cause of the incident is yet to be ascertained.  Statutory inquiry into this incident will be conducted by Shri D. K. Singh, Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), South Central Circle, under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.The General Manger of all Zonal Railways  are being instructed to exercise extra vigil as well as launch a special safety drive regarding precautions to be taken to avoid recurrence of such accidents.