Click to play videoHyderabad: Disaster struck the passengers of the Gautami Express on Thursday night as they slept. The train was near the Kesamudram station in Warangal, on the Kakinada-Secunderabad route in Andhra Pradesh when at 01:35 hrs IST, the accident happened and the train caught fire.
Five bogies of the train were completely gutted by the time help arrived. The reason for this tragedy are as yet unknown. Forensic teams are probing as to why the train suddenly caught fire.
Warangal SP, V C Sajjanar says, "We suspect this fire accident took place due to a short circuit. We need to conduct an enquiry to confirm whether there were inflammable substances in the train or if any other causes were there for the fire."
As the Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad, quickly announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 4 lakh for each victim's family, the state Chief Minister, Y S R Reddy too rushed to the spot and announced a compensation.
"The Centre will award an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the families of the deceased. The state government will award Rs 1 lakh and the Railways Department will also give Rs 1 lakh as compensation. The Railways Department will also provide Government employment for one member of each victim's family," Reddy stated.
The Railway Ministry and the state government have ordered seperate probes into the accident.
(With inputs from Lenin in Warangal)
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