MP twin train tragedy: We could hear sound of water ready to drown us, recalls survivor

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According to the passengers, the situation worsened as it was pitch dark and bodies were floating around them. So, they made efforts to move to the safer bogies of the train. “We were sleeping when a loud noise woke us up, and in seconds, we were upside down. The whole compartment shook.The passengers fell from their berths. Nobody knew what was going on. Passengers were screaming and we could hear the sound of water ready to drown us all. The situation cannot be explained in words. It was like death was near,” said Ramji Lal, a passenger who arrived in the city.

“The water was flowing with great speed. I was standing near the emergency window and suddenly somebody pushed me aside and jumped through it. I realised I could escape through the window too,” added Lal.

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“I had never seen train compartments in such disoriented positions. I saw all six compartments — in the water, on the field nearby and on the track. I thought it was the last day of my life. I saw one of the passengers getting electrocuted and dying,” said Arbab Shaikh.

“I was afraid to even touch my mobile phone. It was dark and we were in a stampede kind of situation. The fear of death is more horrible than actual death,” he added.

santoshee.mishra@expressindia.com