Umesh Prasad (87), who was on the Rajendra Nagar-LTT Express (13201) that derailed in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday, is in deep shock.

A resident of West Boring Canal Road, he boarded the train at Patna Junction around 10.45pm on Monday on his way to meet his son in Mumbai. However, his journey was cut short after two trains - one he was on and Varanasi-bound Kamayani Expresss (11071) - derailed between Firangi and Khirkiya stations in Harda district of Madhya Pradesh around 11.30pm on Tuesday.

Umesh saidover phone: "I was fast asleep when the accident took place. At first I thought it was some kind of dacoity. But people sitting in my coach started screaming that the train had derailed and plunged into a river. I was so scared, I could not move. I could feel the derailment as our coach shook very hard." Umesh, a retired government employee based in Patna, was travelling in an AC II-tier (A2) bogie.

Thirty-one casualties were reported, but East Central Railway chief public relations officer Arvind Kumar Rajak said 11 of the dead were residents of Umra village in Madhya Pradesh. The coaches that derailed include S-1, two general bogies adjacent to S1 and a sleeper coach. The Patna resident said railway authorities had made alternative arrangements to send passengers to Mumbai by a special train.

Relatives of passengers were seen inquiring about their safety at special booths East Central Railway (ECR) had set up in Patna Junction. Authorities had even put up a list of causalities there.

Middle-aged Vikas Kumar, whose mother was on the Rajendra Nagar-LTT Express train, was relieved. "I rushed to Patna Junction on learning of the accident. I managed to speak to her and she is okay. However, I feel sad for those who did not survive. We talk about building bullet trains but cannot ensure safety on existing trains," said Vikas, who hails from Gardanibagh.

At another booth in Rajendra Nagar Terminal, railway officers sat with a list of passengers on the train. ECR has also issued helpline numbers - 0612-2206967, 06115-232398, 83288 and 83814 - on which one can get status of trains and accident-related details.

ECR on Wednesday cancelled 14 trains and diverted 14 others via Bhusawal, Nagpur and Itarsi. On Thursday, too, two trains, LTT-Bhagalpur Express (12336) and LTT-Jainagar Express (15548), would be cancelled.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar condoled the deaths. Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee president Ashok Choudhary slammed the railways and sought Union railway minister Suresh Prabhu's resignation. "The primary report shows the derailment took place because of negligence by railways. I demand a high-level probe and the railway minister's resignation," he said.