THE WINDING TRACKS OF DEATH

The nation has expressed grief over the Amritsar train tragedy which took lives of over 60 people who had gone to watch Dussehra celebrations. Let’s glimpse into similar hapless incidents of the past.

1 On November 27, 1956, this famous Indian, the then Railway Minister, tendered his resignation following the Ariyalur train disaster. Prime minister Nehru said, “All of us are very unhappy over the tragedy, but probably the unhappiest among all of us is the Railway Minister.” Identify.

2 The infamous Nishapur train disaster happened when around 50 carriages carrying petrol, fertiliser and sulphur products began moving unexpectedly, possibly because of earth tremors. The ferocity of the blast was such that windows were reported to have been shattered within a radius of more than 10 km. Identify the country.

3 The Balvano Train crash of 1944 in Italy caused the death of 520 people and is regarded as one of the most unusual rail accidents of the century. This gas from steam engines of the locomotive No. 8017 stalled with the compartments on a steep gradient inside a tunnel and the low- quality coal created this poisonous gas. Identify the gas.

4 The Awash rail accident caused over 400 deaths and remains the worst train disaster ever in Africa. The accident occurred in January 1985 when the train crashed on a curve while crossing a bridge when the four cars of the train plunged into a ravine on the Awash River. Identify the country.

5 The ‘ Queen of the Sea’ train crash caused by the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004, is regarded as the worst train disaster in railroad history after it caused the death of over 1,700 people. The train was drowned and destroyed by two strong waves. Identify the country.