Vananchal Express reaches Ranchi

RANCHI - The Bhagalpur-Ranchi Vananchal Express, which was hit by a speeding passenger train in West Bengal’s Birbhum district early Monday, reached Ranchi around 4.30 p.m. as a host of anxious relatives waited at the station. At least 60 people were killed in the accident.

The Sealdah-bound Uttar Banga Express rammed into three coaches, a luggage van and two unreserved general second class coaches of the Vananchal Express while it was standing at Sainthia station in Birbhum.

“I was sleeping on the upper berth and all of sudden, I felt a strong jerk and fell down on the ground. My hand was fractured. After first aid, I continued my journey,” said Santosh Kumar, a passenger.

Pintoo Singh, another passenger, said: “The impact (of the collision) was very strong. Though our coach was safe, we felt something wrong had happened. I thank God I survived the accident”.

Describing the scene at the spot of the accident, he said it was “horrible”. “People were screaming for help. It was the first time in my life that I witnessed such a horrible scene,” he said.

As soon as information about the accident was received, relatives of passengers reached Ranchi station to make enquiries.

As the train arrived at Ranchi, people who saw their kin well were relieved.

Raj Kumar, a resident of Ratu road, was not so lucky. “I called the mobile of my son-in-law and it was picked by a policeman and I was told to arrive at Saithia station to identify the body,” he said. He left in a special train arranged for relatives of the killed and injured passengers.