Ambawali (Maharashtra): Railway Minister Laloo Prasad has said that the accident involving Matsyagandha Express, which left 14 people dead and 62 others injured, was caused by boulders falling on the track due to landslides.

"Prima facie, it seems that there was a landslide and boulders fell on the tracks. The driver had to break hard. Of course, there will be an investigation by the Commission of Safety," Laloo said last night (June 16, 2004).

"I also want to thank villagers, youths and people of neighbourhood as I saw them in television helping very much in rescue operations," he said.

A speeding Mumbai-bound Matsyagandha Express from Mangalore derailed between Karanjadi and Veer near Roha in Raigad district of Maharashta yesterday (June 17, 2004) killing 14 people and injuring 62 others.

"Earlier, I was informed that around 20 people have died but finally I came to know that the number of killed is 14," Laloo told reporters at the accident site last night.

"When we investigated on the site, we found out that one point was not covered by the netting which is built to prevent boulders from falling on the tracks. I believe this had caused the accident," he said.

"Commissioner of Safety will look into the details of the accident, including if this had happened due to negligence, and submit the report within one week," he said.

On the ex-gratia amount, he said Rs one lakh will be given to the next of the kin of the killed and Rs 15,000 to the injured passengers. Railways will meet all expenditure of medical treatment of the injured, he added.