WRECKAGE; INJURED IN HOSPITAL.




Initials TS/VS/JH/SGM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A HIGH COURT JUDGE IS TO HEAD AN INQUIRY INTO TUESDAY'S (19 MARCH) RAIL ACCIDENT IN MYSORE STATE, SOUTHERN INDIA, IN WHICH AT LEAST 52 PEOPLE DIED AND ANOTHER 41 WERE INJURED. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED WHEN AN EXPRESS TRAIN RAN HEAD-ON INTO A STATIONARY PASSENGER TRAIN, AND ACCORDING TO INDIA'S RAILWAY MINISTER, THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A GRIEVOUS NEGLECT OF DUTY.

THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED AS THE DECCAN EXPRESS SMASHED AT 50 MILES (80 KM) AN HOUR INTO A STATIONARY PASSENGER TRAIN AT YALVIGI ABOUT 30 MILES (47 KM) SOUTH OF HUBLI.

AMONG THE DEAD WERE NINE WOMEN AND SEVEN CHILDREN. MOST OF THE VICTIMS WERE ASLEEP IN THE CROWDED THIRD CLASS SLEEPER COACHES OF THE EXPRESS WHEN THE IMPACT CAME. RAILWAY OFFICIALS SAID THE ACCIDENT WAS BECAUSE THE LOCAL PASSENGER TRAIN WAS RUNNING THREE HOURS LATE ITS LOCOMOTIVE HAD BROKEN DOWN TWICE.

THE TWO ENGINES WERE HURLED FROM THE TRACK BY THE IMPACT, AND RESCUE WORKERS TOILED THROUGH THE NIGHT TO FREE THE DEAD AND INJURED.

MOST OF THE INJURED WERE TAKEN TO THE KARNATAK MEDICAL COLLEGE HOSPITAL IN HUBLI. AMONG THOSE INJURED WAS THE DRIVER OF THE DECCAN EXPRESS.