Thirtee persons were killed and 47 injured following a head-on collision between the Krishak Express (15007) and the Lucknow-Barauni Express (15204) at the Nandnagar railway crossing in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, late on Tuesday night.
The impact of the collision left two sleeper coaches of the Lucknow-Barauni completely smashed while one sleeper coach was partially damaged. An inquiry has been ordered into the cause of the accident.
Sources in the North Eastern Railway in Gorakhpur told The Hindu that prima facie reports showed that the Krishak overshot the signal which resulted in the both the trains meeting on the same track.
The Krishak’s driver applied the emergency breaks too late as the Lucknow-Barauni had gathered speed.
Sources said the Lucknow-Barauni was given the home signal allowing it to pass. The Krishak, coming from the opposite direction, was to stop at the crossing point to let the Lucknow-Barauni pass.
Ten mangled bodies were retrieved late on Tuesday night. About a dozen injured were also rescued from the debris.
