Mathura/New Delhi, Oct 21 (IANS) Tragedy struck early Wednesday when a speeding New Delhi-bound passenger train rammed into a stationary train in Mathura city, killing 23 people and injuring 20. Many survivors complained of late reaction by the authorities.
While officials were tight-lipped over the cause of the disaster, there is speculation that negligence on the part of the driver of Goa Express may have caused it to collide with the stationary Mewar Express at around 5 a.m. at a railway signal, around 55 km from Agra in Uttar Pradesh.

Saurabh Jain, a survivor, said: “We could feel electric shocks coming from compartments at the rear of the train. But the authorities reacted very late.”

He said the shock was first felt at 4.50 a.m. “We requested for help. But not a single policeman was seen at the site of the accident till 6 a.m.”

This is the first major train accident in Mamata Banerjee’s new tenure as railway minister. While the Goa Express was coming to the Indian capital from Goa, the Mewar Express had started its journey in Rajasthan.

There is speculation that the driver of the Goa Express may have ignored a signal, leading to the collision.

“The exact reason behind the incident is yet to be found. The enquiry is on and the drivers of both trains are being questioned,” R.D. Vajpayee, chief public relations officer (CPRO), North Central Railway, told IANS.

Railway official Rajesh Kumar said: “Twenty-three deaths have been confirmed. The condition of some of the injured is critical and unstable.

“The track has been cleared now. The rear portion of the Goa Express and the front portion of the Mewar Express left the site around 8 a.m. with the remaining passengers,” Vajpayee said.

Some people from the Goa Express were later accommodated in the Mewar Express that finally made its way to Delhi. Some buses were also arranged to take the passengers to Delhi, about 150 km away from the accident site.

The injured were taken to four hospitals in Mathura but many passengers were angry with the authorities.

Seema, a survivor who suffered leg injuries, was in a state of shock. “Initially it was only the villagers who helped us. I suffered leg injuries. Now I am going to Haridwar with my husband,” she said, tears rolling down her face.

The army is involved in the rescue operations.

“We used specialist equipment like electric power saws, steel cutters, portable welding sets as well as heavy lift recovery vehicles. The teams started relief operations at 7 a.m. and extracted over 20 civilians within two hours,” a senior army official said.

Railway Minister Banerjee, who was in Kolkata, has announced a compensation of Rs.500,000 for the families of the deceased. Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister Laxminarain Choudhry announced a compensation of Rs.10 lakh and a job for the families of victims.

The accident affected train traffic between New Delhi and both western and southern India. Several trains were diverted and the Intercity Express from Agra to Hazrat Nizamuddin was cancelled.

Trains were diverted from Agra Cantonment towards Tundla for Delhi. Most trains were likely to be delayed, officials said.