Mumbai-bound train hit by boulder, 17 injured

MARGAO, NOV 8
Around 17 passengers travelling in the Mangalore-Mumbai Matsyagandha Express were injured after a huge boulder came crashing on the train between Karwar and Harwad on Monday evening.
The injured, including three passengers, who have sustained critical injuries, have been rushed to a Karwar hospital after the train chugged in at the Karwar railway station.
KRC Sr Public Relations officer Baban Ghatge, who was away in Kholapur, said the accident occurred at around 7 pm when the train was hit by a huge boulder between Karwar and Harwad. “Around 17 passengers have been injured in the accident”, he said, adding that all the injured have been admitted in a Karwar hospital.
Replying to a question, Ghatge clarified that there’s no land slide at the spot and only the boulder fall left the passengers injured. He further said that the railway track at the accident spot has been cleared for rail traffic.
A number of Goans were travelling in the train and the Margao railway station was flooded by inquiries following the accident.
Many a passenger, who were to board the train at the Margao railway station were left stranded for some time.
Our Poinguinim correspondent adds: Seventeen injured passengers, who have been rushed to Karwar District Hospital, may be shifted to GMC Hospital at Bambolim or to Manipal Hospital at Udipi-Mangalore.
Speaking to Herald, one of the police department personnel of Karwar district said that the SP of Karwar has cancelled all his programmes and rushed to the site to conduct site inspection along with the KRC officials.
At the time of going to press, Karwar police department and other departments were having a tough time to bring the survivors to safety due to the torrential rains that is lashing Karwar and Goa.
It may be recalled that the KRC route is mountainous and loose boulders alongside the railway track falling on the tracks is a common phenomenon since its commencement.
PTI adds: There were unconfirmed reports of a passenger succumbing to injures in a Karwar hospital, Superintendent of Police (Karwar) Raman Gupta told PTI by phone.
Due to continuing rain in the region, a boulder came crushing down from a nearby hill and hit three bogies of the Mumbai-bound train, police said.
The seriously injured were shifted to Patanjali Hospital in Karwar, while the rest were admitted in district hospital, Gupta said.
Konkan Railway Public Relations Manager Baban Ghatge said a team of officials had rushed to Karwar.
The train is stationed at Karwar and alternative arrangements are being made for the passengers to help them reach their destination, officials said.