At the emergency enquiry counter, Railway officials were busy updating their lists of names and numbers of the passengers and their status, injured, besides disseminating information on the telephone to worried relatives who were calling up. Also available with them was the passenger reservation chart of the GT Express, besides various other details such as the telephone numbers of the hospitals where the injured have been admitted and the DOT number atthe site. Outside, a board had been put up with details about the accident, the number and names of those injured as well as dead.

Said Sanjiv Garg, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Northern Railway: ``Similar counters have also been set up at the Old Delhi Railway Station (no. 3962389) and Nizamuddin Railway Station (no. 4619748), so people do not have to face any problem.'' The numbers for the enquiry at New Delhi Railway Station are 3344128, 3344029.

A little further, outside the Station Master's office, a counter had been set up by doctors of the Central Hospital, Northern Railways to attend to the injured who arrived from the site of accident near Mathura. Doctors sat prepared with their medical kit. About four wheelchairs had been placed if need be to ferry the passengers out. And close to it was another counter which was to serve mineral water, tea and biscuits to the tired passengers.

As the train was scheduled to arrive, this area was quickly cordoned off to avoid people falling on theinjured and the coolies of the station took their positions to unload the luggage of the passengers. As a humanitarian gesture, they offered their services free of cost. So as the train rolled into the station and stopped at the platform, the small number of passengers who landed were smoothly whisked over to the medical aid counter and offered water, tea and biscuits to the tired passengers. The coolies not only carried over their luggage for them, but also ferried the wheel chairs over to the first aid counter and then to a quiet spot where they could have their refreshments without anyone stepping over their toes. They even carried little children for the parents and got them examined by the doctors before handing them back.

The railway staff was equally active and co-operative. They quickly checked the lists and in case required issued revalidations (that is made alternate arrangements for them in the next connecting train) to those who wished to resume their journey forward. Said Garg: ``Besidesrevalidating, we have also decided to refund the passengers for remaining portion of the journey if they so desire.''

Later in a press release, the Railways also announced a free travel pass to the accident site to the next of kin of the dead and injured from the nearest railway station.

Insight

Telephone numbers of the hospitals where the injured have been admitted: