Train derails in Bihar, one dead, 22 injured

One passenger died and 22 others were injured when the engine and six bogies of 5708 Amritsar-Katihar Amrapali Express derailed in Bihar’s Khagaria district on Wednesday around 11 pm.

Th mishap occurred between Gouchari and Pasraha stations, 150 km east of Patna. A special train was rushed from Barauni to take passengers to Katihar in the wee hours of Thursday.

The railways has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 15,000 to the family of the deceased and Rs 5,000 to injured passengers.

Railway sources said the accident took place because the track had caved in following incessant rains. As a result of the mishap, several trains including Guwahati-New Delhi Rajdhani Express, North-East Express were diverted via Bhagalpur. An inquiry by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (Eastern Circle) has been ordered.

“Heavy rain makes the track in these areas vulnerable to cave-ins,” said East Central Railway Chief Public Relation Officer Dilip Kumar.