Patna: Left shaken after the deadly Utkal Express derailment, survivors of the tragedy are still coming to terms with their ordeal.
Recounting the tragedy, a survivor said, "It suddenly felt as if someone had pulled the chain and the very next moment, the train derailed and everything was in an uproar".
Another survivor, said, "I was in that train. And when the accident took place, within minutes the locals came to help. It was quite later that administrative officials came to our aid."
Blaming the underway construction work, another local claimed more deaths than the official record.
"The accident took place because of the construction. I believe that more than 50 have died and at least 500 people have been injured. The railway should have been more cautious," said a survivor.
Meanwhile, all the trains on the Meerut line have been cancelled or diverted till 6 pm.
Affected rail route is expected to be cleared and traffic is likely to be restored by 7 pm on Sunday.
According to a statement by the Northern Railway, General Manager RK Kulshrestha is personally monitoring the relief work at site and Addl. General Manager, Northern Railway Manju Gupta is observing medical assistance work in the hospital personally.
Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha along with Member Traffic, Railway Board and DG/Health Railway Services had visited the accident site Saturday night and directed senior railway officials to ensure proper and timely relief and rescue work and provide best possible medical assistance to affected passengers.
Manju Gupta, Addl. General Manager, Northern Railway along with Senior Doctors is personally monitoring the medical assistance to injured people in Meerut and Muzaffarnagar hospital.
Several passengers have been injured and 23 passengers reported dead in this unfortunate accident.
At least 26 passengers are grievously injured while others have simple injuries.
Many injured people have been discharged after they were given first aid assistance.
