The relatives of passengers aboard the Kalka Mail which derailed in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday said they could not obtain information about their loved ones from the helpline set up at the Howrah railway station.
"I spoke to my father at 2 p.m. and he said he was fine. But his voice was getting husky and he could not speak properly. I am very tense... I and my brother-in-law are waiting here to board the relief train," said Raju Maity, whose father Dipak Maity was aboard the train.
"The helpline desk people don't have any information about the injured and the dead. For what have they opened such useless helpline desk," asked Rajat Guha, who was inquiring about his father-in-law.
"My sister Mousumi along with her husband and two kids were in S4 coach of the train. We are unable to contact her since the accident occurred. We are waiting for the relief train. We have not got any information about her family," said a weeping Supriya Ghosh.
A relief train is scheduled to leave from Howrah station with the relatives of the passengers at 8 p.m. on Sunday. Many anxious people thronged the station to board the train and queued up outside the helpline desk for information.
"My elder brother was on the train. We had a telephonic conversation just an hour before the accident happened. But after the accident, we lost contact. The helpline desk has also failed to throw light on the matter," said Niranjan Sarkar.
At least 20 people were killed and more than 100 injured when 14 coaches of the Kalka Mail went off the rails in Fatehpur district of Uttar Pradesh Sunday noon.