Kolkata, May 28 (IANS) A 48-seater special aircraft has been pressed into service by Air India to help the victims of the train accident near Jhargram in West Bengal, the air carrier said here Friday.
‘A 48-seater ATR-42 aircraft took off from Kolkata airport at 11.20 a.m. for the Kalaikunda airstrip near the site of the disaster,’ Air India said in a statement.
The flight has on board a 43-member team of the National Disaster Management Authourity and 500 kg of relief material.
‘Two officials of Air India, including an engineer, were on the flight as well to extend any logistical support to clear the aircraft,’ it said.
Air India may operate a number of sorties to the site of the accident as per requirement, it added.
At least 65 people were killed and over 200 injured early Friday when the Howrah-Kurla Gyaneshwari Express passenger train derailed and was hit by a speeding goods train near the Maoist stronghold of Jhargram in West Bengal.
