66 die in 'terror attack' on Samjhauta Express

Thirteen people have also been injured in the blasts on the Pak-bound train, reports Hitender Rao. Have your say

At least 66 persons, most of them believed to be Pakistan nationals were burnt to death and about 13 were injured when two bogies of the Pakistan bound Attari Express caught fire near Panipath late last night following twin explosions caused by improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

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The two unreserved coaches were completely burnt from inside, leaving behind charred and half burnt bodies of the passengers which were removed by the local villagers and jawans of Railway Protection Force (RPF) and local police after much struggle and effort.

"It was awful. Burnt and half burnt bodies of the passengers were all over in the coaches. In one of the coaches, the scene was even more grisly with a pile of charred and half burnt bodies stacked in one corner. It seems that while trying to save themselves the passengers took cover in one corner of the bogey,'' said RPF Assistant Sub-Inspector, Jai Narain who took out the bodies from the burnt coaches.

Narain said that his shoes and clothes were completely soiled with the fluids oozing out of the half burnt bodies of passengers. " It was difficult to walk inside these coaches as there disjointed and burnt limbs were everywhere. The stench was dreadful. But thanks to local villagers who helped us out in getting the bodies out," he said.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that the fire broke out at about 11.53 pm yesterday after the two general compartments which were teeming with passengers were rocked by the blasts just as the train touched the level crossing number 47 near the Dewana railway station near Panipat.

Railway personnel Pawan Kumar who was manning this level crossing was the first ones to hear the explosion. He told HT : "It was about 11.52 when the I showed the signal lantern to the Attari Express which was coming in very fast, probably at over 100 kilometers an hour. Just as reached near the home signal, I could hear two loud explosions from the coaches near the Guards van at the rear.''

Babu Lal Meena, a Railways pointsman who was eyewitness to the entire incident said that he saw flames coming out of the compartments while he was exchanging the signals. "It was horrific and I just felt helpless. Imagine the plight of the passengers who were inside. They could do nothing but submit themselves to their fate,'' he said.

Railway personnel said that what made the matter worse was that none of the coaches which caught fire were interconnected and were stuffed with passengers and luggage. "Had these compartments been interconnected, perhaps some of the lives could have been saved,'' said an official.

While twelve persons injured in the blast have been shifted to Delhi's Safdarjung hospital, a Multan resident Kamaruddin who sustained five per cent burns has been admitted to Panipat Civil Hospital. Those referred to Delhi are : Nine year old Shammi, a resident of Karachi; 42-year old Rana Shuakat Ali, his wife Ruksana , their one year old daughter, Aksha (all Pakistan nationals), 11-year old Nadeem from Mirpur Khas in Pakistan, 25 year old Mohammad Shakil from Pakistan, Mohammad Zakir, a resident of Bijnaur in Uttar Pradesh and a RPF head constable Tarsem.