The survivors of the Sabarmati Express, which collided with a stationary goods train on Thursday near Baroda killing 17 people, praise the local administration's quick response.

Jamnaprasad Sharma, a student from Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh, who was travelling to Ahmedabad to appear for an engineering college entrance exam, is undergoing treatment at the government hospital in Baroda.

He told rediff.com in a telephonic conversation that he was given medical attention promptly after he was brought to the hospital.

His co-passenger Arun, who boarded the train at Ratlam, told rediff.com over the telephone, "We were sleeping because it was well past midnight. Suddenly the train collided with another train. I was in the S-8 compartment. We were dazed."

Arun said the police's smart action saved him. Local police broke open the compartments so that survivors could escape.

"I sneaked out of my compartment, which had turned upside down," Arun said.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former minister from Baroda Nalin Bhatt told rediff.com that timely action by the railways prevented a bigger tragedy.

The Rajdhani Express from Delhi was expected on the same track 10 minutes after the accident. The train was alerted in time, he said.