The Railways have set up helpline numbers in 8 major railway stations in Kerala to provide information about the passengers who were travelling in the Ernakulam-bound Mangala Express that derailed near Ghoti between Igathpuri and Nasik stations early on Friday.
The helpline at Ernakulam can be contacted by 0484 2100317,Thrissur 0487 2430060, Central Control/Palakkad 0491 2556198; Mangalore Junction 0824 2437824; Mangalore Central: 0824 2423137, Kannur 0497 2705555, Kozhikode 0495 2701234 and Shornur 0466 2222913, according to the railways.
The helplines set up in Kerala is in addition to the helpline numbers 02553-244020 and 02512-311499 set up by the railways to provide information about the commuters of the 12618 Mangala Express that left Nizamuddin on Thursday and was to reach Ernakulam at 12 noon on Saturday.
Another helpline had been set up at the Mumbai CST by the railways and can be contacted at 022-226944040 for getting passenger details.
The divisional railways are rushing a team of senior officials from Thiruvananthapuram to the accident spot to assist the injured and stranded.
Information reaching Thiruvananthapuram said the accident took place near Nasik at 6.25 am between Goti -Igathpuri stations. Three air-conditioned coaches and eight non air-conditioned coaches derailed. Over 40 have been rushed to three hospitals in Igathpuri and Goti.
The Pantry Manager of the train, B. Biju told The Hindu over telephone from Igatpuri hospital that the 22 member staff in the pantry car was preparing breakfast when the mishap took place. “I cannot recollect what happened. It was a plain terrain. The pantry car was between the coaches 9 and 10 of the train”, he said.
Four of the injured pantry staff - Muralikumar, Vinod Kumar, Manikantan and Chandrasekharan- were shifted by Mr. Biju to the hospital. Two of them sustained injuries in the leg.
Mr. Biju said the majority of the commuters were Malayalees and many were sleeping when the accident took place.
The accident spot is 25 kms from Nasik and falls under the Bhusaval railway division.