TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: A group of Botany students of government college, Quepem along with pilgrims to Infant Jesus shrine at Nasik, who were travelling by the ill-fated Mangala express arrived at the Margao railway station late Friday night by the Netravati Express.
The Margao railway station was bustled with relatives and teaching staff of the Quepem college as they anxiously awaiting the safe return of their wards and students after the unfortunate train mishap. Sources in the know said that 22 Botany students along with three teachers had proceeded to Himachal Pradesh on an excursion and were returning home by the Mangala Express after boarding the train in Delhi when they were hit by the tragic incident.
A staff member of the Government college, Selly Coutinho told the media that the students have returned unharmed and safe. “There was a loud sound and we thought that the train has been hit by an earthquake. Realisation later dawned that the bogies of the train ahead of our bogey had derailed,” she said.
Replying to a question, she said they were transported to the highway from the fields by tractors, before they reached the railway station. “None of our students have been injured. They are all safe”, she said.
A pilgrim to the Infant Jesus shrine at Nashik, Lourdes Pereira was amongst the passengers, who was travelling by the Mangala express, but has returned home safe along with two other pilgrims.
