32 dead and 8 injured in Gautami Express fire accident
As per the latest information available at the headquarters, 32 people have died in the Gautami Express fire accident while eight people are injured. As mentioned in earlier press release some coaches of 2738 Dn Gautami Express running from Secunderabad to Kakinada caught fire at 01.10 hrs today while the train was on its run between Kesamudram and Tadalapusalapalli stations falling in the Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh under the Secunderabad Railway division of the South Central Railway. The fire reportedly broke out in the sleeper class coach S-10 and spread further to another four coaches namely S-9, S-11, S-12 and S-13. Medical Relief Van along with an Accident Relief Train was immediately rushed to the site along with senior railway officials.
The injured are being treated in the MGM Hospital, Warangal. Telephonic Help lines have been set up at Secunderabad (09701371062, 09247028390), Kakinada (0844-2387220) and Vijayawada (0866-3068941) for providing further information to the relatives of the passengers.
The Minister of Railways Sh. Lalu Prasad expressed his profound grief at the tragedy and has announced an exgratia amount of Rs. 5 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased along with a job in the railways and Rs. 1 Lakh to the grievously injured.
AKS/HK/LK/TR
(Release ID :40952)