Ladhowal (Punjab): People screamed, shouted for help and even flung their children from the burning bogies of the running Frontier Mail, that claimed 38 lives and left 13 injured in the wee hours of May 15.

Passengers pulled the chain to stop the train after they saw flames leaping out from a coach, while some threw their children in a desperate bid to save them as the burning train slowed down and came to a halt, eyewitnesses said.

Villagers from Phaguwal, the nearest to the site of the early morning tragedy, rushed with buckets of water to douse the inferno and pulled out many passengers to safety.

All that was left of three badly burnt coaches were metal frames, and half-burnt luggage and suitcases strewn around the compartments. Some wooden sleepers and electric poles near the charred bogies also melted in the heat.

Rescuers had a tough time in extricating the bodies as they were charred beyond recognition. Some passengers were seen looking for their near and dear ones among the bodies that were lined up for identification.

Anguished relatives rushed to the scene after hearing about the tragedy and thronged the hospitals in Ludhiana where the injured were admitted.

Struggling to hold back tears, Army man Shaji M K said he had lost his wife Betti, and both his children - son Jhonny (11) and daughter Tony (6) in the fire.

PTI