The freak mishap occurred when at about 1.15 am on Thursday fifteen wagons of a goods train parted section between Parli and Ghatnandur and started rolling back towards the Parali station where the 7663 Manmad-Kachiguda Express was standing. The goods train carrying ballast (Khadi) banged into the express train with such a force that the last coach of the train was sandwiched and bodies of passengers got enmeshed with mangled steel.

The languid platform immediately turned into a scene of immense tragedy as wails of women and children who survived the crash rent the air. Railway police and deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde immediately swung into action and rushed the injured to Ambajogai medical hospital.

And as the morning set in and news of the disaster spread, the Parali railway station became a visiting spot of sorts.Hordes of onlookers flocked to get a first hand look at the relief operation and retrieval of each body brought more passers-by, giving a tough timeto the already hardpressed railway police.

Since the railway compartment was reduced to small pieces of scrap, it was a a Herculean task to extricate flesh and blood-stained belongings from the debris.

However, by noon, quite a few bodies were recovered from the mangled remains.

While one such body was being retrieved, a tearful man stood near the relief workers as his wife was trapped inside. And as the body of the woman was brought out, he broke down inconsolably.

Those who were lucky to survive, found it difficult to remember the exact sequence of events at the time of the accident. Sixty-year old Zungabai recollected, ``I only remember a jolt, and we all fell down. And then the police brought me to Ambejogan.''

Kailash Babusha Yamgar, a beggar in the Kachiguda Express said, ``I could only hear a big sound and then women and men fell over each other.There was blood on the platform.''

Divisional Operations Manager, South Central Railways, Devendra Kumar, attributed the accident to ``material failure'', and said for the 15 wagons to roll back, the connecting hook must have snapped. However, he could not pin point the exact reason.

The tragedy had an inevitable effect on the preparations for the 71st All India Marathi literary conference which was to begin at Parali today. Munde immediately declared Rs 50,000 as compensation for the deceased. The Minister of State for Railways Ram Naik too visited the spot and said the Commissioner of Railway Safety would inquire into the matter.

Union Railway Minister Nitish Kumar also visited the spot late evening.On receipt of information, medical relief vans from Nanded and Secunderabad have been rushed to the spot.