The Railway Ministry has announced an immediate compensation for the victims of the ill fated Tamil Nadu Express which had a ghastly fire accident on Monday. Thirty-two persons, including six women and three children, were burnt to death when flames engulfed the S11 coach of the Chennai-bound Tamil Nadu Express. There were 71 reserved passengers and a few “unreserved” travellers in the coach. Among the  occupants 17 people were from Delhi, 11 from Bhopal, 28 from Vijayawada, 7 from Warangal, 6 from Jhansi, three from Agra and one from Nagpur.

Tamil Nadu Governor K. Rosaiah, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and leaders of political parties conveyed their condolences to the families of the bereaved passengers. Ms. Jayalalithaa said she had deputed senior Ministers and bureaucrats to visit the site to take care of the injured passengers from the State. She said she had granted Rs 1 lakh to the family of every deceased passenger and Rs. 25,000 each to the injured.

Railway Minister Mukul Roy has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs. five lakh each to next of kin of deceased. He also ordered an enquiry into the incident. He is expected to reach Chennai during the course of the day.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and the Leader of the opposition Nara Chandra Babu Naidu visited the accident victims and the relatives of the deceased.

Many survivors of the ghastly experience narrated their harrowing experience, quite pathetic. 'It was all over in seconds' recalls a survivor. Seconds that saved them from the evil clutches of death. (With inputs from internet-AW AarKay)