Bus fire mishap: Bengal pilgrims return by train

Sixtysix pilgrims hailing from West Bengal and stranded in Ramanathapuram following a bus fire mishap that left five others dead would leave for Kolkata from Chennai tonight.
The members have been accommodated in a Guwahati-bound train, a Southern Railway official said.
Five persons, including two women, were charred to death and six injured when an overloaded bus from West Bengal, carrying 80 pilgrims, caught fire after a gas cylinder exploded on board at Tiruppullani near Ramanathapuram in the wee hours yesterday.
The pilgrims, including 30 men and 36 women, were accommodated by the Ramanathapuram District administration here after the mishap at Tirupullani village. They were sent to Chennai en route to Kolkata this morning by district officials.

Ramanathapuram MP Anwar Raajha made arrangements for the return of the 66 pilgrims, including 36 women, for their return journey.
Raajah said he had taken the matter up with the railway officials. The Chief Minister's office and the local administration had also taken all efforts for their safe return, he added.
Meanwhile, condition of one of the injured, Gayathri Bhakli, was stated to be critical while others were being treated for burn injuries and their condition was stable, police said.
Officials said the bus was overloaded and the passengers, hailing from districts like Hooghly and Midnapore, had left West Bengal on August 22 on the pilgrimage to various places in Tamil Nadu besides Tirupati.