Anxious relatives rush to Howrah station

Howrah station here witnessed panic on Sunday as relatives of the passengers on board the Delhi-bound Kalka Mail that derailed near Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh were desperate for news of their loved ones.

A special relief train departed from Howrah station in the evening with 63 passengers — friends and relatives of those who were on board the Kalka Mail.

Friends and family members of passengers on board the train rushed to Howrah station as soon as news of the derailment was broadcast on television. Panic reigned as several of them claimed that they had not been able to find out any information on the helpline numbers or the special inquiry counters opened at Howrah station by the Railway authorities.

“I heard that my nephew A. M. Bhattacharya, who was on coach S2, has been injured from a news channel. I rushed to Howrah station and Railways authorities say they do not have information about him. Phone lines are not working. What am I supposed to do,” said Abhijeet Banerjee, one of the many anxious relatives looking for some information on the passengers of the ill-fated train.

Locating loved ones was even more difficult for those who were travelling in general compartments. Mukesh Singh went through the reservation list several times but could not find any information about his brother and family.

They had boarded the train without a reserved ticket and he had no idea which compartment they were in.

Minister of State for Railways Mukul Roy said here on Sunday that he had recommended that compensation of Rs. 5 lakhs be given to the family members of those killed, and Rs. 1 lakh to those injured in derailment of the Howrah-Delhi Kalka Mail near Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh.

“An incident of this kind is always tragic, but under no circumstances would we want the family members of the victims to face any problems,” Mr. Roy said.

On being asked if he will be going to the site of the derailment, Mr. Roy said that at present Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had himself taken up the responsibility of the Railways portfolio, and senior officials of the Railway Board had rushed to the site of the derailment.

He said that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, “who is well acquainted with the manner in which the Railways function,” had spoken to him immediately after the news of the incident reached her, and asked that required action be taken.