The Utkal Express from Puri to Haridwar has derailed at Khatauli, Muzzafarnagar in Uttar Pradesh. A Railway Ministry official says that 23 people died and 40 were injured in the incident. A Railway Ministry official said that 13 coaches have been derailed of which three were third-tier AC and the rest sleeper coaches. The derailment was apparently due to application of emergency breaks immediately after the train left the Khatauli station.
Latest Updates:
10:14 pm: Train No. 18478 Haridwar-Puri Kalinga Utkal Express leaving Haridwar on 20-08-2017 has been cancelled due to derailment.
09:36 pm: ADG Railway confirms that 23 dead and that the number of casualties is expected to go up as the rescue process is still on. Over 40 people have been injured and shifted to hospitals.
09:30 pm: New Delhi-Jalandhar InterCity Express (14681) and New Delhi-Dehradun Jan Shatabdi Express (12055) diverted due to the derailment, says the Ministry of Railways.
08:42 pm: A Railway Ministry official confirmed that 13 coaches have been derailed — three third-tier AC and the rest sleeper coaches. The official confirms that there have been 11 casualties so far. Thirty people have been injured.
08:42 pm: NDMA says 11 dead and more than 40 injured as rescue operations continue.
08:31 pm: Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu declares an ex-gratia of ₹3.5 lakh for those who lost their lives in the accident. He also declared ₹50,000 for those seriously injured and ₹25,000 for people with minor injuries. He adds that an inquiry has been ordered ascertain the cause of the accident and that strict action will be taken against any lapse.
08:22 pm: Eighty six passengers had boarded the Kalinga Utkal Express from the Puri station.
"Shocked to know about the unfortunate accident of Utkal Express in Muzaffarnagar. My thoughts with the families who lost their loved ones," tweets Rahul Gandhi.
08:11 pm: President of India, Ram Nath Kovind tweets " Sad at train derailment in UP; my thoughts are with deceased & their families. Injured are being rescued & provided relief #PresidentKovind "
08:08 pm: Railway Spokesperson Anil Saxena confirms that four died in the Muzaffarnagar train derailment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweets "Extremely pained by the derailment of the Utkal Express in Muzaffarnagar. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased. I wish those injured a speedy recovery. The situation is being monitored very closely by the Railways Ministry. Railways Ministry & UP Government are doing everything possible & providing all assistance required in the wake of the train derailment."
07:45 pm: National Disaster Management Authority says that approximately 50 have been injured in the accident.
Union Ministers Dr. Sanjeev Balyan and Manoj Sinha to rush to accident site. Mr.Sinha says that an inquiry has been ordered into the accident to ascertain the cause. "Strict action will be taken against any lapse," he tweets.
07:20 pm: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath tweeted that instructions have been given for all possible help for the proper treatment of the injured passengers.
07:09 pm: Fifteen to twenty passengers injured so far as per initial reports. We are yet to ascertain if there are any casualties, says Northern Railways CPRO Neeraj Sharma.
06:57 pm: Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu says that he is personally monitoring the situation.
UP Health Minister Sidharthnath Singh tweets - "#UtkalExpress derailment have mobilised medical services & instructed CMOs Meerut/Muzafarngr to ensure all help is extended to the injured."
06:55 pm: An Anti-Terrorism Squad led by DSP Anup Singh has left for the site on the instructions of UP ADG Law and Order Anand Kumar.
Anil Saxena, the Railway spokesperson says that at the moment, the focus is on relief and rescue at the site. "The accident took place on Meerut-Saharanpur section of the Northern Railways division. Five bogies derailed near Khatauli station in UP. No immediate information on casualties yet. Our focus is on providing relief operation to the affected passengers. Not clear what caused derailment," he adds.
06:50 pm: ADG Law and Order has dispatched police officers of NCR to Meerut. All ambulances of Meerut-Muzaffarnagar have been asked to leave for the accident site. Alert issued to all the hospitals of Meerut, NCR.
06:40 pm: Reports say that six dead bodies have been taken out, and twenty injured till now. Derailment apparently due to application of emergency break immediately after the train crossing Khatauli station.
06:37 pm: NDRF teams mobilised for rescue operation at Khatauli railway station, Muzaffarnagar where the accident took place.
