Train mishap: Army, IAF help in rescue operations

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Kolkata, July 19 (IBNS): The Indian Army and Indian Air Force (IAF) have been called to help in rescue operations at West Bengal’s Birbhum, site of the train accident that claimed over 60 lives and injured over 85, on Monday.

“The Headquarter Bengal Area of Eastern Command pressed into service 7 officers and over 160 jawans to carry out relief and rescue operations for the affected passengers involved in the train mishap at Birbhum, today,” said Mahesh Upasani Chief Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Defence, in a statement.

He said the team of over 167 Army personnel was drawn-in from the Army bases at Kanchrapara and Panagarh in West Bengal.

The team comprised Army Doctors, Paramedicos , Engineers and Technicians. 20 Army vehicles and 03 Ambulances were also put into service for this purpose. Metal cutting specialists and equipment of the Army were moved from the above mentioned bases.

The Indian Air Force (IAF), meanwhile, has kept its resources at Kalaikunda and Barrackpore on ‘short standby’ which can be used for relief and rescue at short notice.

Col Jai Prakash is the Taskforce Commander of the Indian Army columns in this operation.

According to Prakash, “We received the requisition for relief and rescue operations from the DRM at about 6’0 clock in the morning. We immediately moved the men and the material from bases as far as Kanchrapara, which is about 140 km away. Our doctors and paramedicos are providing medical aid where as rest of the team is doing.”

The train accident occurred in the wee hours of Monday when two trains- Uttar Banga Express and Vananchal Express- collided as they came on the same track at Sainthia station, about 200 km north of Kolkata.

Around 2 am Down Uttar Banga Express bound for Kolkata hurtled into Down Vananchal Express bound for Ranchi.

The Vananchal Express was about to leave from platform number 4 of Sainthia station when the tragedy occurred, railway officials said.