Fatehpur: 31 people died and at least 150 were injured when 12 bogies, including the engine of New Delhi-Howrah Kalka Mail derailed near Malwa railway station in Fatehpur district of Uttar Pradesh today.
The death toll is likely to go up with railway authorities saying many might still be trapped under the debris.
Rescue operations are still on with the help of locals, railway and district administration authorities. Local people are cutting the AC coaches to bring out survivors trapped in the bogies. According to reports, nearly hundred Armymen have been pressed into service with medical supplies being rushed to the area. Railway Board Chairman is also heading to the spot.
The train was on its way to New Delhi from Howrah, with 1,200 passengers on board when it derailed.
The death toll is likely to go up with railway authorities saying many might still be trapped under the debris.
Rescue operations are still on with the help of locals, railway and district administration authorities. Local people are cutting the AC coaches to bring out survivors trapped in the bogies. According to reports, nearly hundred Armymen have been pressed into service with medical supplies being rushed to the area. Railway Board Chairman is also heading to the spot.
The train was on its way to New Delhi from Howrah, with 1,200 passengers on board when it derailed.
Railway authorities said the train was travelling at a top speed of 108 kilometres per hour, when it derailed near Malwa railway station. HC Joshi, North Central Railway General Manager, said, "The exact cause of the derailment has not been ascertained as we are busy in rescue operations." He added a probe has been ordered into the accident.
All the injured passengers have been rushed to Kanpur hospital. Two relief trains, one from Kanpur and the other from Allahabad comprising of medical teams, cutting equipment, cranes, engineers have left for Malwa to assist in the rescue operations. Due to the derailment, 13 trains have been cancelled and 25 others diverted along the Allahabad-Kanpur section.
Meanwhile, expressing shock over the loss of lives in the rail accident, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has instructed MoS Railway, K H Munniyappa, to visit the accident site and provide all resources for the rescue operation which is underway in full swing.
Minister of State for Railways Mukul Roy has announced Rs. 5 lakh ex-gratia to the next of the kin of the dead, Rs. 1 lakh for those who sustained serious injuries and Rs. 25,000 for victims who have suffered minor injuries.
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