Army, Air Force join rescue work

As personnel from the Indian Army and choppers from the Indian Air Force continued rescue and relief operations on a war-footing till late evening at the site, where 15 coaches of the 12311 Howrah-Delhi-Kalka Mail derailed on Sunday afternoon, the Railways authorities were grappling to find a credible answer to what actually caused the derailment at Malwan station in Uttar Pradesh. As sunlight faded, the railway personnel put up generator-based lighting systems. In the night, a special train left Howrah station carrying relatives and friends of the Howrah-Kalka Mail mishap victims for Malwan station.

Union Minister of State for Railways Mukul Roy was present at the station along with his Tourism Ministry counterpart Sultan Ahmed and state minister Arup Roy when the train left at 8:20 pm. “Railway Ministry is under the Prime Minister. Officials have left for the spot. If necessary, I will go there,” said Roy.