A different day for residents of Mansar village Tuesday, December 14 2004 20:29 Hrs (IST) - World Time
Mukerian (Punjab):
Leaving behind their daily chores on hearing the deafening sound of the colliding trains, aghast residents of nondescript Harsa Mansar village close to the accident site swung into action to help pull out those entangled in the badly mangled bogies.
Villagers carrying iron rods, axes, ropes and other handy material ran to rescue scores of injured as the site of collision between Ahmedabad-bound Jammu-Tawi Express and a local train painted a gory picture with pieces of bones and flesh strewn amid scattered luggage around the track.
Some rushed the injured in their tractor-trailors to nearby medical centres.
Tarsem Singh, working in his fields close to the single line track and who was among the first batch of villagers to arrive on the ghastly site, said, "It took us at least few hours to pull the badly injured driver of Jammu Tawi Express train from its engine."
Harjinder Singh escaped miraculously with some leg injuries and was extricated from the badly mangled engine by the local people, he said.
Visibly shaken passenger aboard the coach S-6 of Jammu-Tawi Express Neeta Mohindroo, could only remember that after the collision panicky passengers were seen jumping out of the train to save their lives.
"I felt a violent jerk and next moment I realised everybody was jumping out to save their lives. As we came out we saw the passenger train engine on fire and twisted pieces of iron all around," she re-called.
A column of Army was called from Mirthala to assist the relief and rescue operations. Some cranes from Army and civil were seen in a joint operation to clear the track. Police, railway and voluntary organisations were fighting against time to pull out trapped passengers.
Government Railway Police (GRP) constable, travelling in S-7 bogie of Jammu-Tawi said he removed some profusely bleeding passengers to nearby medical centres.
Makeshift camps with facility of food were erected by the villagers adjacent to the accident site.
Temporary medical camps to give first aids were also set up by the Army and civil administration.
More News
