At least eight persons were killed and 70 injured when Hampi Express train rammed into a stationary good train at Penugonda Railway Station in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh in the early hours of Tuesday. This was a Bangalore-bound train. The accident occurred when the train jumped a signal. While one of the coaches of train caught fire, three sleeper coaches and two second class coaches derailed when the train collided.

The train left Hubli station on Monday at 6 PM and was supposed to reach Bangalore at 6 AM today. The train number is 16591. While four persons among the dead are children, some bodies had been charred and could not be identified. AP revenue minister Raghuveera Reddy, who arrived at the spot, has said the injured were shifted to nearby hospitals in Penugonda, Puttaparti and Hindupur. Congress MP Chiranjeevi and minister Shailajanath also visited the accident spot.

According to the railway sources, the accident occurred after 3 AM. The fire has been doused and the rescue operations are on. Meanwhile, the railway minister Mukul Roy rushed to the spot from Kolkata. He has ordered a probe on the mishap. As a part of the same railway safety commissioner will submit a preliminary report.

The railway minister has also announced Rs. Five lakh ex-gratia and Rs. One lakh compensation to the severely injured and Rs. 50,000 for those who sustained  minor injuries. The reasons behind the accident are yet to be ascertained. Nonetheless, the officials suspects that the driver had overshot the signal.

Five lakh compensation to the kin of the deceased!  Will the amount bring back the lost life? Even after so many measures time and again train mishaps are taking place. It’s high time for the Centre to come look at this issue seriously. (Phani)