ID :
19336
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 12:48
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/19336
The shortlink copeid
Thousands of Eurostar passengers stranded by a major fire By H. S. Rao
London, Sept 12 (PTI) - For the second day Friday,
thousands of Eurostar passengers including Indians were
stranded here after an inferno in the Channel Tunnel halted
services even as 300 fire-fighters battled the blaze all night
and brought it under control.
The fire on 50-km rail link in the tunnel under English
Channel, which separates England with northern France, is the
worst since 1996 and only the third in its history, said the
Eurostar authorities.
More than 100 people camped out at St. Pancras station
here overnight, waiting for refunds or killing time before
their first train to the ferry terminal at Dover.
Among those stranded were NRIs, Raj and Kundan Desai, who
were on their way to Paris for a wedding -- along with the
groom and around 30 other guests.
The marriage was due to take place in Paris in the
afternoon today.
Kundan Desai said: "We simply have to get there somehow.
We can't miss it. The bride is there, the groom is here, we
have to find a way."
"Is Eurostar going to pay? They should. If we have to
hire cars or fly or get the ferry, we should get the money
back," said Raj Desai.
The fire sparked off from an overheating brake caused 14
minor injuries and cost hundreds of millions of pounds. Twelve
of them were rushed to hospital as they suffered from smoke
inhalation and minor injuries.
An estimated 300 fighter fighters - 100 British and 200
French - fought the fire overnight and brought it under
control this morning.
All 32 passengers on board, many of them British, were
led to safety through a service tunnel.
A spokesman for the Pas de Calais fire brigade said: "The
tunnel is in a very bad way, and it could be a long time
before it re-opens.
"The fight against the fire has been hugely difficult. We
have been operating in 1,000-degree heat."
About 40,000 passengers due to travel Friday have had
their journeys cancelled. At least 15,000 were left in limbo
yesterday as the fire forced the company to cancel 25 train
services.
Disgruntled commuters and families on weekend breaks
were offered refunds or exchanges on their tickets.
The last fire in the tunnel 12 years ago caused 200
million pounds of damage and it was six months before services
returned to normal.
French Interior Minister Michelle Alliot-Marie, who
visited the drivers in Calais said that death and more serious
injuries were averted because the blast was in a "lorry cut
off" from the others, and not a nearby one carrying highly
flammable carbolic acid, or phenol.
A French policeman said: "It is a very serious fire,
which appears to have broken out at around 2.55 pm on a toxic
chemical lorry.
"The truck caught light with disastrous consequences.
All of the tunnels have been shut. There will be no more
services for the foreseeable future." PTI HSR
thousands of Eurostar passengers including Indians were
stranded here after an inferno in the Channel Tunnel halted
services even as 300 fire-fighters battled the blaze all night
and brought it under control.
The fire on 50-km rail link in the tunnel under English
Channel, which separates England with northern France, is the
worst since 1996 and only the third in its history, said the
Eurostar authorities.
More than 100 people camped out at St. Pancras station
here overnight, waiting for refunds or killing time before
their first train to the ferry terminal at Dover.
Among those stranded were NRIs, Raj and Kundan Desai, who
were on their way to Paris for a wedding -- along with the
groom and around 30 other guests.
The marriage was due to take place in Paris in the
afternoon today.
Kundan Desai said: "We simply have to get there somehow.
We can't miss it. The bride is there, the groom is here, we
have to find a way."
"Is Eurostar going to pay? They should. If we have to
hire cars or fly or get the ferry, we should get the money
back," said Raj Desai.
The fire sparked off from an overheating brake caused 14
minor injuries and cost hundreds of millions of pounds. Twelve
of them were rushed to hospital as they suffered from smoke
inhalation and minor injuries.
An estimated 300 fighter fighters - 100 British and 200
French - fought the fire overnight and brought it under
control this morning.
All 32 passengers on board, many of them British, were
led to safety through a service tunnel.
A spokesman for the Pas de Calais fire brigade said: "The
tunnel is in a very bad way, and it could be a long time
before it re-opens.
"The fight against the fire has been hugely difficult. We
have been operating in 1,000-degree heat."
About 40,000 passengers due to travel Friday have had
their journeys cancelled. At least 15,000 were left in limbo
yesterday as the fire forced the company to cancel 25 train
services.
Disgruntled commuters and families on weekend breaks
were offered refunds or exchanges on their tickets.
The last fire in the tunnel 12 years ago caused 200
million pounds of damage and it was six months before services
returned to normal.
French Interior Minister Michelle Alliot-Marie, who
visited the drivers in Calais said that death and more serious
injuries were averted because the blast was in a "lorry cut
off" from the others, and not a nearby one carrying highly
flammable carbolic acid, or phenol.
A French policeman said: "It is a very serious fire,
which appears to have broken out at around 2.55 pm on a toxic
chemical lorry.
"The truck caught light with disastrous consequences.
All of the tunnels have been shut. There will be no more
services for the foreseeable future." PTI HSR
