Rajasthan track cleared, trains run again

Jaipur, Nov 15 : Train services have resumed on the Jhir-Jhatwara sector in Rajasthan where a train derailment a day earlier left six people dead and 11 still in hospital Sunday.

The railway operations returned to normal Saturday night, some 21 hours after the Saturday 1.30 a.m. accident involving the Jodhpur-Delhi Mandore Express near Bassi, about 40 km from here.

Fifteen the train's 22 coaches derailed Saturday. Four of them were air-conditioned cars.

Six people were killed and 20 injured in the accident, a railway spokesperson said.

He said that train services resumed on the section at 11.30 p.m. Saturday night. Before that, two passenger trains were cancelled and some others diverted from the route.

Five of the seriously injured passengers were in stable condition in hospital, doctors said. Six others were recuperating in the SMS Hospital here. Nine had been discharged after first aid.

The railway ministry has ordered an enquiry into the accident. The commissioner (railway safety) would submit an interim report in a month.

The railways have also announced a compensation of Rs.500,000 for the families of the dead, Rs.100,000 for the seriously injured and Rs.10,000 to those who sustained minor injuries.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has announced a separate compensation from the state government for those affected in the accident.

The state government has announced compensation of Rs. 200,000 each for the next kin of the deceased, Rs. 100,000 each for seriously injured and Rs.50, 000 for simply injured.