Two Killed, 47 Injured as Maoist Blow up Railway Track

Maoist blew up railway tracks and derailed eight bogies of the Tata-Bilaspur passenger train on Thursday night in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhm district, killing two passengers and injuring more than 47.

According to railway minister Mamata Banerjee, the train comprised of 10 coaches, of which five derailed and three toppled over as also the engine.

Banerjee said that bodies were recovered from an overturned bogie, while 47 passengers were wounded. Six passengers are trapped in another capsized bogie.

She said that three passengers had been rescued as yet, as rescuers were using gat cutters to gain access to the coaches, three of which were badly damaged.

The explosion took place between Manohar and Posoita railway stations just in front of the engine of the train, some 20 minutes after a pilot engine had passed.

Banerjee said, “Maoists blew up a portion of a railway track which caused the derailment. There were also three to four blasts nearby to deter rescuers.”

Superintendent of Police (Rail) A B Homker said in Ranchi, “Railway staff and rescue teams have reached the spot, and are cutting open the bogies to rescue the injured passengers.”