Minister still suspects sabotage in train fire

Union minister of state for railways KH Muniyappa still suspects sabotage behind the fire accident in Tami Nadu Express near Nellore railway station in the early hours of July 30. He insisted that only 68 people were travelling in S11 coach at the time of the accident, contradicting reports that all 72 berths were occupied by passengers.

Muniyappa, who had darshan of Lord Venkateswara here on Saturday, told newspersons that there was no chance of electrical short circuit leading to the fire accident and that government is suspecting sabotage.

He refused to explain further and said the exact reason would be known only after studying the report to be submitted by the Railway Safety Commission headed by its commissioner DK Singh and also the forensic report of Andhra Pradesh Forensic Laboratories. Contradicting the earlier stated figure of 32 deaths in the accident, excluding two deaths in hospitals over last two days, he said only 28 people died in the mishap.