Bridge collapses over train, kills 34

TRAGEDY ON TRACKS: Pedestrian bridge collapsed crushing a railway train in Bhagalpur. (Pic: AP)

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New Delhi: The 140-year-old Ulta Pul, an abandoned foot overbridge over the Bhagalpur railway station which was in the process of being demolished, lived up to its name on Saturday.

As the Howrah-Jamalpur Superfast Express passed under it, a portion of it gave way, smashing down on a coach of the moving train.

Thirty-four of the injured have died.

However, the District Magistrate of Bhagalpur, Vipin Kumar, said only four people have been admitted into the hospital. "The train was headed for Howrah when the accident took place. Four people are in the hospital. Relief vehicles have been rushed to the spot," he said.

Eastern Railways Chief PRO, S Majumdar, said, "It was the third tier of the bridge - which was yet to be demolished - that fell on the train. The demolition was mainly being done in the night and no work was underway in the daytime when trains were being allowed to pass from under the overbridge."

Majumdar reckons that many of the passengers were those who had boarded the train at interim stations. He says that a new bridge to replace the Ulta Pul had already been constructed and was in use.

Probe Ordered
Railway Minister Lalu Prasad has ordered an inquiry into the accident to be conducted by the Railway Safety Commissioner. He has said that a criminal case would be lodged against those found guilty of negligence leading to bridge collapse.

Though the accident took place early on Saturday morning, it took the Railways authorities over two hours to reach the scene - this despite the fact that they have a proper rescue and relief team in place.

A Deputy Chief Engineer and an Assistant Engineer of Bhagalpur Division have been suspended for negligence.

Relief on the Way
Officials said that a three-bogey special train with doctors, relief workers and senior Railway officials on board, left for Bhagalpur Junction at 1115 hrs IST and is slated to reach in about seven hours.

Meanwhile, the locals took over the rescue operations on their own without waiting for any officials to arrive. The local administration soon chipped in with a few ambulances but they proved inadequate.

Majumdar said that though Bhagalpur station did not fall on the main line, it was in the way of trains going to Jamalpur and Guwahati and train services to these areas are likely to be affected till rescue and repair operations are complete.

The 211 UP Howrah to Rajgir Passenger train has already been cancelled.

HELPLINE NUMBERS
Bhagalpur: 0641-1072
Jamalpur: 06344-1072
Malda: 0351-1072

(With inputs from Prabhakar Kumar, CNN-IBN)