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Kanpur train tragedy: Frantic families continue search for missing relatives
The distraught family members of missing Indore-Patna Express passengers are running from pillar to post in search of their loved ones. The tragedy has so far claimed
The distraught family members of missing Indore-Patna Express passengers are running from pillar to post in search of their loved ones. The tragedy has so far claimed 147 lives but there’s still no news about the whereabouts of a number of passengers.
The family of 55-year-old Mohammed Tahir, who had boarded the ill-fated train along with his wife Safia, received information about his body a day after the accident. But his wife remained untraceable.
“We got the news on Monday at around 9am that my uncle’s (Tahir’s) body has been found (from under the debris). However, there is still no trace of Safia,” Sadiq Khan, nephew of the deceased, told HT. “Fifteen members from our community left for Kanpur on Sunday and are camping there,” he said.
Families of passengers were sifting through the luggage and other belongings piled up at the accident site to look for any clue about their relatives.
“I am looking for my brother. Who knows what has happened to him? He may have changed his seat... we have searched everywhere,” said Ramanand Tiwari.
Western railways (Ratlam) PRO Jitendra Kumar admitted that the number of people travelling by the train could be much higher than the official figure of 1,266.
“We don’t have the exact figures at this time… There is a huge rush every Saturday to board the train and while a general bogie can accommodate 90 people, usually a double of that board it,” he said.
(With agency inputs)
