Two Britons killed in India train crash are named

[Dubious]

Loraine Toner and Joan Nickolas, both 60, died in accident during chartered railway tour from Kalka to Himalayan town of Shimla






The cause of the derailment of the Indian tourist train is still not known. Photograph: Stringer/India/Reuters
Press Association

Sunday 13 September 2015 12.46


Two Britons who died in a train crash in north India have been named.

Loraine Toner and Joan Nickolas, both 60, have been identified by Indian press as the two women who were killed in the accident.

The train was travelling from Kalka to the Indian Himalayan town of Shimla when nine carriages came off the track at around 1pm local time on Saturday.

Passengers were travelling on a four-carriage tourist service chartered by Great Rail Journeys. Chief executive officer, Peter Liney, said 36 passengers and one tour manager were on the train.

A number of victims were taken to a local hospital, where three people were still being treated for non life-threatening injuries, he added. “The remaining passengers are safe in the hotel in Chandigarh and are awaiting the arrival of Great Rail Journeys’ emergency response team, led by our director Julian Appleyard and accompanied by an expert counsellor,” Liney said.

The team will offer any support and help necessary to those passengers who are there, he said. “On site, there continues to be a team of our representative’s local staff who are there to give whatever aid and assistance they can.

“We would like to express our very sincere thanks for the enormous support the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has provided over the last 24 hours and, indeed, for the assistance given by the Indian consular offices in the UK in fast-tracking the emergency visa applications we have required.”

He added: “The families of those who were fatally injured have been informed. We are working with the FCO to assist their relatives in travelling to India as soon as possible.”

Representatives from the York-based travel company are at the scene and senior staff are expected to arrive at 3pm UK time today, along with qualified counsellors.

Responding to the deaths, Hugo Swire, the minister for Asia, said: “I am deeply saddened that two British nationals have been killed and many others injured in a train accident in northern India. My thoughts are with their family and friends at this difficult time. Teams from the British high commission in New Delhi and deputy high commission in Chandigarh are on their way to the area to help all those affected.”

The cause of the derailment is not yet known. The tour, India’s Golden Triangle, left for India on 10 September and was due to finish on 22 September.

A Foreign Office spokesman said the families of the deceased have been informed but it was unable to confirm the identities of the passengers.

Two Britons killed in India train crash are named | World news | The Guardian

 

[Dubious]

India train derailment: Dead Briton named as Joan Nichols

• 17 minutes ago
  
• From the sectionUK

Image copyrightFacebook
Image captionJoan Nichols has been named as one of two British tourists killed in the crash
One of the two British tourists killed after a train derailed in northern India has been named as Joan Nichols.

A family member told the BBC the 71-year-old from South Shields was on a "once in a life time holiday".

Her husband John, 72, has been released from hospital. Their two daughters and son are now travelling to India.

Investigations are under way to discover what caused the train, which was carrying 37 Britons on the Kalka to Shimla mountain line, to derail.

Some reports suggest the specially-chartered train was going too fast.

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Media captionFootage filmed from inside the train, moments before the derailment, showed the train travelling at speed round a corner
Great Rail Journeys, the York-based tour company which organised the trip, earlier said the families of those killed had been informed.

Representatives from the company are due to meet survivors.

Mrs Nichols's niece Andrea Davison told the BBC she was grandmother to five children and great-grandmother to two children. She was also volunteer for the Samaritans.

'Deeply saddened'
Three carriages of the four-carriage train came off the rails shortly after leaving Kalka railway station at 13:20 local time, a rail official told the BBC.

Onboard were 36 passengers and a tour manager on day three of a 13-day trip.

Confirming the deaths of two British nationals on Saturday, Foreign Office minister for Asia Hugo Swire said he was "deeply saddened".

Local police said nine people were injured, including six Britons.

Three people - two passengers and the tour guide - are still in hospital with what are believed to be non-life threatening injuries, Great Rail Journeys said.

Emergency response
Chief executive Peter Liney thanked the Foreign Office for its assistance, and said a group of passengers were now in a hotel in the nearby city of Chandigarh.

An emergency response team from the company, including a counsellor, had landed in Delhi and was on its way to Chandigarh, expected to arrive about 17:30 local time, he said.

"A number of the passengers have chosen to move on from the hotel in Chandigarh and have gone to Shimla, where Great Rail Journeys will ensure that an experienced tour manager is made available," he added.

Image copyrightReuters

Image copyrightRavinder Singh Robin
The new tour manager would arrive in Shimla on Monday, he said.

Dinesh Kumar, divisional railway manager of Northern Railways, told the Times of India the cause of the incident was not immediately clear and an inquiry had been ordered.

BBC India correspondent Sanjoy Majumder said consensus among survivors was that the train was going "too fast", especially on the sharp bends.

Passenger David Carding from Norwich, said: "Obviously we were totally shocked and couldn't understand at first what was going on.

"One lady was brought alongside our carriage, and one of the other passengers attended to her, and she had really severe head and facial injuries."

Image copyrightAFP
Image captionPassengers leave Kalka railway station after the incident

Image copyrightRavinder Singh Robin
Image captionThe interior of one of the train carriages
The picturesque Kalka-Shimla mountain railway is a Unesco world heritage site and tourist attraction, often called the toy train line.

It was opened in 1903 to connect Shimla, the summer capital of British India, with the northern plains.

The railway climbs more than 4,000ft (1,200m) through the Himalayan foothills, and is famous for its many bridges, tunnels and panoramic views.


India train derailment: Dead Briton named as Joan Nichols - BBC News

 

[Chanakya's_Chant]

Kalka train mishap: Britain hails India's response​

KALKA: Britain on Sunday praised the Indian authorities for their response to derailment of Kalka-Shimla chartered heritage train near Kalka, in which two British nationals were killed and 13 others injured, and said it was pleased that an investigation has been announced into the accident.

British high commissioner to India, Sir James Bevan, who arrived in Chandigarh on Sunday from Delhi, met with the injured who are admitted in a private hospital at Mohali, besides meeting other UK nationals including those who had received minor injuries and were discharged after first-aid and other check-up on Friday.

READ ALSO: Toy train derails on Kalka-Shimla track, 2 foreigners dead

He also met the railway officials and the Himachal Pradesh authorities who were present here.

"I want to praise Indian authorities for their response to this tragic accident. I have spoken to Police, to the railway authorities, to the medical staff treating several British nationals who were involved, to thank them for first class effort to support and help all the British people who were involved," Bevan said addressing a press conference here this evening.

He said he was there to lead the British government's response to the train accident that took place on Friday.

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Asked if those nationals who were not injured or had escaped with minor injury would be going back now, he replied, "obviously, we are pleased that the authorities have announced an investigation.

"They have to decide for themselves, each of our citizens what they want to do. Some of them have already decided that they will continue with their holiday here in India, others for now, are remaining here in Chandigarh and we will give them advice and support in whatever they wish to do next".

READ ALSO: Traffic restored on Kalka-Shimla rail line

About the condition of three seriously injured admitted to a hospital at Mohali, Bevan said, "... We obviously hope and indeed expect that all three will make a good recovery."

The high commissioner expressed "deep condolences" to the family and friends and loved ones of two British nationals, who lost their lives in the accident on Friday.

Asked if any advisory for future will be issued to British citizens who use the narrow gauge rail track, he said, "in relation to the accident itself it is not for me to comment, we will wait to see the results of the investigation".

"Every year, over eight lakh British nationals come to India, almost all of those visits are trouble-free. British people enjoy coming to India and they are very welcome in India, we want that to continue. So, I don't see any reason why we should change our travel advice in relation to India as a whole because of this incident," he said.

The British high commissioner also said he met with "the partners of the two British nationals who lost their lives and conveyed personally my condolence for their sad loss."

He said he visited the British nationals in hospital and spoke to them and assured them of all necessary support from the government.

Source:- Kalka train mishap: Britain hails India's response - The Times of India

May the souls of the departed RIP!