Guwahati, July 11 (AGENCIES): A massive security alert was sounded on Monday across Assam after the overnight separatist bombing that derailed a passenger train and left more than 100 people injured 20 of them critically, officials said. "We have sounded a high alert across the state with security personnel to visit Assam train blast site deployed at vulnerable locations to thwart rebel attacks," chief minister Tarun Gogoi said.
"We condemn such barbaric militant attacks like bombing trains or other such things targeting civilians," he added. Police suspect militants of the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) for the explosion at the Guwahati-Puri Express late on Sunday near Ghograpara in western Assam's Nalbari distict, about 70 km from the main city of Guwahati.
Four coaches of the train were derailed, trapping many passengers. "It was indeed a very powerful explosion and the bomb was placed on the track. Flexible wires and other materials used to trigger the explosion were recovered from the accident site," a senior police officer said requesting anonymity. "Forensic experts have collected material evidence from the site and only after examination we can be sure about the composition of the explosives," he said.
The train was bound for Puri in Bhubaneswar. "There was a loud explosion and it was total chaos soon after. The coach in which I was travelling skidded of the track and fell in a marshy land with waist deep water. Somehow we managed to come out of the coach," said Jiten Das, a passenger who was among those injured.
"I sustained cut injuries on my head and arms, besides a wound in my chest." "Four of the coaches derailed and one of the bogies skidded and went at least 20 metres from the track," Dhanmoni Das, a local who helped several of the injured come out of the train, said. "We rescued more than 100 people and helped them reach the nearest hospitals with the help of bicycles, motorbikes and private vehicles," said Rubul Ali, another local who helped in the rescue operation.
The critically injured were shifted to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital. No militant groups have claimed responsibility for the attack. "We strongly suspect the NDFB to be behind the blast," the police officer said. The NDFB is a group fighting for an independent homeland for the Bodo tribe's people in western and northern Assam. A faction of the NDFB is observing a ceasefire with New Delhi, while another faction headed by jailed chairman Ranjan Daimary is still waging a war for independence.
Meanwhile, all incoming and outgoing trains to Assam have been suspended following the blast.
"We are yet to retrieve the derailed bogies trapped in a marshy land a few metres away from the track. Until we repair the track, movement of trains would remain suspended," a railway official said.
"We condemn such barbaric militant attacks like bombing trains or other such things targeting civilians," he added. Police suspect militants of the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) for the explosion at the Guwahati-Puri Express late on Sunday near Ghograpara in western Assam's Nalbari distict, about 70 km from the main city of Guwahati.
Four coaches of the train were derailed, trapping many passengers. "It was indeed a very powerful explosion and the bomb was placed on the track. Flexible wires and other materials used to trigger the explosion were recovered from the accident site," a senior police officer said requesting anonymity. "Forensic experts have collected material evidence from the site and only after examination we can be sure about the composition of the explosives," he said.
The train was bound for Puri in Bhubaneswar. "There was a loud explosion and it was total chaos soon after. The coach in which I was travelling skidded of the track and fell in a marshy land with waist deep water. Somehow we managed to come out of the coach," said Jiten Das, a passenger who was among those injured.
"I sustained cut injuries on my head and arms, besides a wound in my chest." "Four of the coaches derailed and one of the bogies skidded and went at least 20 metres from the track," Dhanmoni Das, a local who helped several of the injured come out of the train, said. "We rescued more than 100 people and helped them reach the nearest hospitals with the help of bicycles, motorbikes and private vehicles," said Rubul Ali, another local who helped in the rescue operation.
The critically injured were shifted to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital. No militant groups have claimed responsibility for the attack. "We strongly suspect the NDFB to be behind the blast," the police officer said. The NDFB is a group fighting for an independent homeland for the Bodo tribe's people in western and northern Assam. A faction of the NDFB is observing a ceasefire with New Delhi, while another faction headed by jailed chairman Ranjan Daimary is still waging a war for independence.
Meanwhile, all incoming and outgoing trains to Assam have been suspended following the blast.
"We are yet to retrieve the derailed bogies trapped in a marshy land a few metres away from the track. Until we repair the track, movement of trains would remain suspended," a railway official said.
Despite PM directive, Railway junior minister yet to visit Assam accident site
Kolkata, July 11 (PTI): Even after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh directed him to visit the site where the Guwahati-Puri Express derailed in Assam, Minister of State for Railways Mukul Roy still remains non-committal on the need to go. Asked specifically whether he would go to Assam since the directive was given by the Prime Minister, Roy told PTI, “I have nothing to say. I suggest you contact the General Manager of the NF Railway about this.”
Northeast Frontier (NF) Railway General Manager M R Chandra said, “The minister (Roy) has already offered to visit the derailment site near Rangiya. But we told him the situation is almost normal and there is no death except for some injuries.”
Chandra told PTI that Roy had been told that rescue and relief operations were almost over and the destroyed track would be restored within 16 to 20 hours. The general manager claimed there were three passengers with grievous injuries, 13 with simple injuries and some with trivial injuries. “The condition of those with grievous injuries is stable in hospital,” Chandra said.
Asked about not visiting the Kalka Mail derailment site at Malwan, Roy replied, “Minister of state for Railways K H Muniyappa is already there to supervise the rescue. Moreover, the relief work is almost over. Fifty four deaths have been officially reported and one injured person is in critical condition,” he said. The Prime Minister is in charge of the Railway Ministry since former minister Mamata Banerjee became the Chief Minister of West Bengal.
Northeast Frontier (NF) Railway General Manager M R Chandra said, “The minister (Roy) has already offered to visit the derailment site near Rangiya. But we told him the situation is almost normal and there is no death except for some injuries.”
Chandra told PTI that Roy had been told that rescue and relief operations were almost over and the destroyed track would be restored within 16 to 20 hours. The general manager claimed there were three passengers with grievous injuries, 13 with simple injuries and some with trivial injuries. “The condition of those with grievous injuries is stable in hospital,” Chandra said.
Asked about not visiting the Kalka Mail derailment site at Malwan, Roy replied, “Minister of state for Railways K H Muniyappa is already there to supervise the rescue. Moreover, the relief work is almost over. Fifty four deaths have been officially reported and one injured person is in critical condition,” he said. The Prime Minister is in charge of the Railway Ministry since former minister Mamata Banerjee became the Chief Minister of West Bengal.
ULFA anti-talk faction condemns blast
Guwahati, July 11 (AGENCIES): The anti-talk faction of the ULFA, led by its commander-in-chief Paresh Barua, condemned the blast on Monday that led to the derailment of the Guwahati-Puri Express in Kamrup district in Assam that left 100 passengers injured. In an e-mailed statement, the outfit's Publicity Secretary Arunodoy Dohotiya said the ULFA had always condemned attacks on indigenous Assamese and their properties.
“We condemn the attack on the Assamese people and will continue to do so in the future,” he said. Meanwhile, the North East Frontier Railway has confirmed that an improvised explosive device was used to trigger the blast that led to the derailment. The NF railway has also filed an FIR with the government railway police against unidentified insurgents for carrying out the blast, Rangiya Divisional Railway Manager A K Manocha said.
Guwahati, July 11 (AGENCIES): The anti-talk faction of the ULFA, led by its commander-in-chief Paresh Barua, condemned the blast on Monday that led to the derailment of the Guwahati-Puri Express in Kamrup district in Assam that left 100 passengers injured. In an e-mailed statement, the outfit's Publicity Secretary Arunodoy Dohotiya said the ULFA had always condemned attacks on indigenous Assamese and their properties.
“We condemn the attack on the Assamese people and will continue to do so in the future,” he said. Meanwhile, the North East Frontier Railway has confirmed that an improvised explosive device was used to trigger the blast that led to the derailment. The NF railway has also filed an FIR with the government railway police against unidentified insurgents for carrying out the blast, Rangiya Divisional Railway Manager A K Manocha said.
