Train rams truck, 14 die

Gonda (UP), Nov 1 (PTI) At least 14 people were killed
and around 25 injured when a speeding Gonda-Ayodhya passenger
train rammed into a truck at an unmanned level crossing here
in India's northern state Utter Pradesh Sunday afternoon.
The incident occurred between Mankapur and Nawabganj
railway stations near Chakrasool village at around 1330 hrs,
District Magistrate Sukhlal Bharati said.
He said 13 train passengers and the driver of the truck,
which was carrying sand, were killed in the accident which
happened at an unmanned crossing.
Eleven, including the truck driver, died instantly while
three succumbed on way to hospital, the DM said adding those
sitting on the roof and hanging on doors of the Ayodhya-bound
train were killed.
He said the injured were admitted to various hospitals
in Faizabad and Ayodhya where condition of some of them was
stated to be serious.
The train was packed as most of the passengers were
going to Ayodhya to attend Purnima Fair beginning tomorrow.
The Railways had announced a compensation of Rs five lakh
to each bereaved family and Rs one lakh to each seriously
injured.
Those with minor injuries would be paid Rs 10,000 each,
a Railway official said.
Senior railway officials and a medical team had already
reached the scene, he said. PTI CORR
DDC