Rajhmundary, June 18: Three persons, including two women, were injured, when passengers of No. 429-Visakhapatnam- Vijayawada passenger jumped from the running train following a country-made bomb going off in the train today.
However, a major mishap was averted as the explosion occurred before the train got on the bridge on Godavari River and the train driver noticing smoke from a compartment and the passengers jumping out in panic and stopped the train.
The passenger train reached Godavari station at 3:13 p.m.
and started at 3:28 p.m., even as the train started moving a bag fell from an upper berth in a sleeper compartment (S2) and exploded. The country made bomb went off with a huge sound and gave out a lot of smoke causing the passengers to panic.
Hearing the blast, passengers panicked and started jumping out of the train. In the melee a woman, Tamella Veerayamma of Kadium, received head injury and Paleti Mahalakshmi of Pusalova of Addateegala mandal received a leg injury. Another person Adari Nageswara Rao suffered fracture in his right leg. The injured were rushed to Government General Hospital here.
According to Superintendent of Police Y Nagireddy, a country- made bomb placed in a handbag exploded when the bag fell from the upper berth.
The General Railway police seized the pieces of the bag and pebbles used in the bomb.
The SP ruled out any terrorist act.
Some milk vendors of Nawabpalem who boarded the train in the Godavari station, said that they jumped from the train when they heard the explosion and noticed smoke.
Another passenger, Suryakumari, who boarded the train at Rajahmundry main station said that she jumped out of the train and ran into the bushes to save her life.
Railway officials released the train at 5:30 p.m. after a checking by the bomb disposal squad.
The bogie in which the explosion occurred was detached at Kovvur and the rest of the train continued its journey to Vijayawada.
–Agencies–