Title - There were three blasts: Survivor

NELLORE: An eye-witness and a survivor of the Tamil Nadu Express fire accident, S Madanlal, on Tuesday insisted that there were at least three blasts in the S-11 coach that caught fire.

Madanlal, a resident of I Town area in Vijayawada, asserted that it was a planned attack by subversive elements and not an accident as believed by many, including police. A wholesale dealer of electrical equipment in Vijayawada, Madanlal was on his way to Chennai on some business work. "I was among the first few passengers to reach the exit door, which we could open with great difficulty. I first heard the blast sound and also heard two more blast noises," he told TOI.

Madanlal, occupant of berth number 69, said he jumped out of the train soon after smelling the smoke and seeing the flames engulfing the coach fast. He was admitted to Bollineni Hospital as he fell unconscious soon after jumping out .

Recollecting his horrifying journey in the ill-fated coach, Madanlal said, "Undoubtedly, it was a blast that resulted in the fire." He further said that had it been short-circuit, there would not have been such a deafening sound. "It was a very loud sound just like what we hear after a huge blast. While getting down, I heard it at least 2-3 times," he said. Madanlal said he is ready to depose before the investigating authorities, if summoned.