KANPUR : In the worst rail accident in recent years, 115 passengers were killed and more than 200 injured, nearly half of them grievously, when 14 coaches of the Indore-Patna Express derailed in Kanpur early on Sunday. The tragedy could have been caused due to a rail fracture, according to sources in the Railways.

Four sleeper coaches of the train — S1, S2, S3, S4 — were badly damaged in the accident.“Over 150 injured people have been rushed to nearby hospitals in the area. All hospitals have been asked to be alert. More than 30 ambulances have been pressed into service,” Commissioner (Kanpur Zone) Iftikharuddin said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives in the train tragedy. “Anguished beyond words on the loss of lives due to the derailing of the Patna-Indore express. My thoughts are with the bereaved families,” he said in a tweet.

Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu has ordered a probe into the tragedy and announced Rs 3.5 lakh ex-gratia for the families of those killed and Rs. 50,000 for those grievously injured.

According to report the derailed bogies are being removed from the rail tracks. “We cannot establish a prima facie cause yet. It is a serious accident. Sabarmati Express passed through same route safely just nine minutes prior to the accident,” S.K. Agarwal DRM of Jhansi division says.Passengers’ luggage remain scattered near the rail tracks. Photo: Omar Rashid
Bihar rushes a three-member team

A three-member team of Bihar government officials has been sent to Kanpur to coordinate with the local authorities and help with the rescue of passengers from the State who were travelling in the train. The team — Pratayay Amrit, principal secretary of the State disaster management department, Rial IG Amit Kumar and Inspector General Jitendra Kumar — is being flown to Kanpur by a special plane. More…

Two children pulled out alive from wreckage

Two children were pulled out alive from an overturned bogie of the Indore-Patna Express here, offering a glimmer of hope to rescuers looking for survivors among the heaps of metal and scattered baggage.The two boys aged six and seven were pulled out from the S3 bogie of the train, police officials said. Read more.

Nitish Kumar cancels govt. function

In the wake of the Uttar Pradesh derailment, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today cancelled a function to release a report card of his government on completion of one year in office and expressed grief over the mishap that claimed 96 lives and left 226 injured.

In his condolence message, Mr. Kumar described the mishap of the Indore-Patna express as sad and expressed deep grief over the casaulties, praying to the almighty to provide strength to families of the bereaved to cope with the tragedy. Read more.

Ex-gratia announced.

Rs. 3.5 lakhs to be given to the departed’s kin as ex-gratia, tweets Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu. Compensation of Rs.50,000 announced in case of grievous injury and Rs. 25,000 in case of simple injury. Mr. Prabhu adds that this ex-gratia amount is in addition to the compensation that will be available through the Railway Claims Tribunal.

UP CM Akhilesh Yadav announces ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each for families of those killed in derailment and Rs 50,000 for seriously injured. Prime Minister announces ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakhs each for the next of kin of those killed and Rs 50,000 for those seriously injured in the UP train derailment.

Information counter opened at Patna station

Railway opened a counter on Platform No 1 of Patna Junction to provide information to the relatives of the passengers traveling in the ill-fated Indore-Rajendra Nagar express train, reports The Hindu’s Amarnath Tewary.

“We’re giving information which we receive here to the relatives making inquiry about those traveling in the ill-fated train…we’ll also provide accommodation in trains for those who want to go to Kanpur”, Mr R K Jha, DRM, Dananpur Rail Division said.

A senior railway officer Mr Bibhuti has been deputed at the Patna railway junction to manage the help window. “We’re also in touch with the Patna district administration and along with them making all arrangement to support the relatives of the passengers”, added Mr Jha.

The railway official also said that the final list of those killed or injured in the accident has not been received yet.Besides, Sleeper and AC coaches, there were hundreds of passengers in the general bogies so “it will take some time to get the details”.

It is said that many people from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh were coming to their home state as the marriage season has just begun.Very few relatives of the passengers are coming to the Patna Junction as most of them must have left for Kanpur by now, said a railway official.
Home Minister Rajnath takes stock of situation

Home Minister Rajnath Singh took stock of the situation and asked the Director General of National Disaster Response Force to rush to the spot. The Home Minister asked NDRF Chief O.P. Singh to provide all assistance to the Railway authorities and Uttar Pradesh government in relief and rescue operations. Read more.

No information

Relatives of those who were killed in the Indore-Rajendra Nagar Express train derailment near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh are harried lot at Patna Junction. No official information or special arrangement has been made by the railways for them. The latest information that has reached Patna Junction is that the death toll has gone up to 63 with over 150 injured. Read more.

Stranded passengers moved

The Ministry of Railways’ twitter handled tweeted the following update:Stranded passengers have been moved from the accident site to Malasa station. A special train from Malasa has been arranged. The Injured passengers have been moved to Kanpur Dehat hospital.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Railway  Suresh Prabhu, who visited Pukhrayan, the accident site of the Patna-Indore Express, in Kanpur Dehat district in Uttar Pradesh, said a probe has been ordered in this connection and rescue operations are priority.”Right now, we need to help the injured. We have started a big relief operation and have utilised all the available resources,” Suresh Prabhu said.

My thoughts are with the bereaved families: PM Modi

“Anguished beyond words on the loss of lives due to the derailing of the Patna-Indore express. My thoughts are with the bereaved families,” tweets PM Narendra Modi.

Share on Facebook

Tweet

Follow us

Save