Fire broke in the AC bogie of Nanded-Bangalore Express in the early hours today when the train reached Kotha Cheruvu Railway Station in Anantapur District. Flames erupted first in D1 AC bogie reached the adjoining bogie too. Fire tenders reached the spot and could control the fire from spreading but not before a great damage was done.
The wounded were shifted to hospital in Dharmavaram. Some of them died after shifting to hospital. Rescue operation is going on to get the passengers out who were caught in the bogies.
57 passengers were in the ill fated bogie out of whom 23 were charred to death including two infants. The bodies are mutilated beyond recognition. The passengers who jumped out of the train on learning the fire in the bogie are injured and in serious condition.
D1 bogie is totally burnt and the other one is partially damaged.
CM Kiran Kumar Reddy expressed shock on hearing the incident and ordered immediate medical attention for the wounded in the super specialty hospital for better treatment. Minister Raghuveera Reddy and MP Venkataramireddy visited the place and inquired from other passengers about the details of the incident.
-SriJa
