Kothacheruvu railway accident

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In the railway accident Kothacheruvu the early morning of 28 December 2013 fell 1.5 km before the railway station Kothacheruvu in the district of Anantapur , Andhra Pradesh , India , the air conditioner and then the concerned passenger cars in fire . 26 people died.

Starting position

The train of the South Western Railway of Indian Railways was a night train from Bangalore , where he had left at 22:45, according to Nanded in Maharashtra go. The question couchette it was an air-conditioned vehicle whose windows are therefore not allowed to open. The outside doors were locked also resulting in the Indian Railways is common to the traveler against theft protect. 67 people are said to have been in the car . The passengers were fast asleep when the fire broke out.

the accident

Around 3:30 / 3:45 a.m., a short circuit probably occurred in the air conditioning system , which led to a fire that very quickly spread to the interior of the car , which was obviously not fire-resistant, curtains and blankets. Fire extinguishers are said not to have been available. The windows of the car were made of very strong glass, so that only some of the travelers managed to break them down and use the windows as an escape route. Around 40 travelers were able to save themselves and jumped from the train that was still moving. The flames also spread to a second car, in which the fire could be put out.

The engine driver stopped the train when he noticed the fire, and the burning vehicle was uncoupled from the train to prevent the fire from spreading to the rest of the train.

consequences

26 people died, including two children. Many of the victims were smoke inhaled and / or burned, e.g. Sometimes beyond recognition, so that they have to be identified via a DNA analysis . In addition, 8 people were injured, five of them seriously.

The Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh , expressed his condolences to those affected. Indian Railways Minister Mallikarjun Kharge promised half a million rupees in compensation to the victims' relatives and ordered the chairman of the Indian Railways Board of Directors to investigate the railway accident and promised a full investigation report upon completion of the investigation.

Web links

Remarks

  1. ↑ The vehicle was an open- plan car in which three couches were always arranged on top of each other (Smith: Fire kills 26 )
  2. ↑ The report that the windows were barred (Smith: Fire kills 26 ) is clearly refuted by the photos of the accident that accompany the same report
  3. ↑ PS Jayram: 26 killed , reported 15 injured
  4. ↑ PS Jayram: 26 killed , reports of "more than 12" seriously injured

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g P. S. Jayram: 26 killed
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g Smith: Fire kills 26
  3. ↑ PS Jayram: killed 26 , with reference to the press secretary of the railway; Smith: Fire kills 26 , which also mentions the number of 76 elsewhere; India train fire , speaks of "over 60" travelers in the car
  4. ↑ a b c d e f India train fire
  5. ↑ a b c Petersmann

Coordinates: 14 ° 10 ′ 31.4 "  N , 77 ° 45 ′ 42.3"  E