Jhargram: The toll in the Mumbai-bound Gyaneshwari Express derailment rose to 120 today as more bodies were pulled out from the wreckage of the mangled coaches with rescuers working throughout the night.
(See Pics)Many bodies are still said to be trapped in the debris. The railway and disaster management teams are working round the clock but it's going to take several more hours for restoration of tracks.
Railway officials said the toll could rise as the worst-affected S-5 and S-6 coaches were yet to be cut open. Bodies could be inside the two mangled coaches as also under the engine of four wagons of the goods train, officials added.
The incident occurred at 1:30 am on Friday when the train was running between Khemasoli and Sardiya stations, about 135 km from Kolkata.
The tragedy has been compounded by the fact that out of around 120 dead bodies, only 11 have been identified so far. It's hence been a long and traumatic wait for relatives of the victims and information from the railway's helpline is sketchy.
(Read: An endless wait for relatives)Scores of anxious relatives have been running from pillar to post trying to gather some information, hoping their loved ones are not among the dead or the injured.
Meanwhile, it is still not clear how a section of the tracks went missing leading to the derailment. While Home Minister P Chidambaram has said it's act of sabotage and no explosive material was found at the site, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee says the Maoists triggered a blast.
(Watch:Train mishap: Blast or sabotage? |
Top UPA Ministers divided?)This tragedy could impact lakhs of other passengers as well several trains that ply through the Maoist belt at night have been rescheduled in the state.
(Read: Night trains rescheduled in West Bengal)South Eastern Railways' decision not to run trains between 10 pm and 5 am could be extended for a couple of days.