At least seven people were killed and nine others seriously injured as eight coaches and the engine of the New Farakka Express (14003) derailed near Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday morning, Additional Director General (ADG), Law and order, Anand Kumar said.
The accident took place near Harchandpur at around 6:10 a.m. and around 30-35 people are injured, he said.
Drone cameras monitor accident site
Mr. Kumar said that drone cameras are being used at the site to trace the missing and keep an eye on the site.
Due to the accident, 13 trains on the route were diverted, a railway official said.
Meanwhile, besides Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, State BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey, State Congress president Raj Babbar, State Ministers and several others have also expressed their condolence over the loss of lives in the derailment.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced ₹2 lakh compensation for the family of the deceased and ₹50,000 for those who are seriously injured.
PM Modi condoles loss of lives
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday condoled the loss of lives in New Farakka Express derailment.
“Anguished by the loss of lives due to a rail accident in Raebareli. Condolences to the bereaved families and I pray that the injured recover quickly,” the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted quoting Mr. Modi.
He said the U.P. government, railways and the National Disaster Response Force were ensuring all possible assistance at the site of the accident.
Emergency helpline numbers
The Northern Railways has issued helpline numbers after the New Farakka Express train derailed in Rae Bareli district.
“The Northern Railways has issued helpline numbers to help passengers and their relatives and give them necessary information,” Public Relations Officer, NR, Vikram Singh said.
Varanasi: 0542-2503814
Lucknow: 9794830975, 9794830973
Prataparh: 05342 220492
Raebareli: 0535 2213154
Other helpline numbers:
Malda Station: 03512-266000; Railway phone numbers: 9002074480, 9002024986
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction: BSNL-05412-254145; Railway phone number-027-73677
Patna Station: BSNL: 0612-2202290, 0612-2202291, 0612-220229; Railway phone number: 025-83288
Raebareli Police: 05352203320 Accident helpline number
Piyush Goyal orders inquiry
Railways Minister Piyush Goyal has ordered Inquiry into the accident which will be conducted by CRS, Northern Circle, a senior railways official said.
The Railways has announced enhanced amount of ex-gratia relief. “It is ₹5 lakh in case of death, ₹1 lakh in case of grievous injury and ₹50,000 in case of simple injury,” the official added.
“I offer my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and those injured in the accident near Rae Bareli. I am in touch with officials for relief work. Railways will offer compensation of ₹5 lakh for the kin of the dead in U.P. accident, ₹1 lakh for the injured and ₹50k for those with minor injuries,” Mr. Goyal tweeted. — Yuthika Bhargava
The Minister has ordered an enquiry to be conducted by the Commission of Railway Safety, Northern Circle.
7 killed, 9 others seriously injured: ADG
Death toll in the New Farakka Express derailment rises to seven and nine others have been seriously injured, Additional Director General (ADG), Law and order, Anand Kumar said.
PAC Officers and Jawans at the accident spot.
The injured are being taken to the Harchandpur PHC and district hospital.
The passengers are going to Lucknow and from there they will be sent to Delhi by a special train, officials said.
Senior officers, including the District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police, CO, Sub-Divisional Magistrate are at the spot and relief operations are in full swing, the ADG said.
A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team comprising 40 personnel has reached the accident site.
The State transport department has allocated six buses by which 300 passengers have been evacuated.
The ADG said that the reason for derailment will be known after an Anti-Terrorism Squad is sent for an on-the-spot probe.
Five killed: Raebareli Police
According to the Uttar Pradesh police, five persons have been killed, and seven persons have been injured. Many of them have been discharged from the hospital and given vehicles to reach their destinations.
Railway traffic blocked on the route
A team of doctors in an accident relief medical van has been rushed to the site in Lucknow and emergency helpline numbers have been set up at the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya junction, Mughalsarai, officials said.
All up and down lines on the route have been blocked and officials suspect that the number of casualty may rise. Previously, the railways had said that six coaches have derailed.
Meanwhile, sources said Indian Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani was on his way to the accident site.
CM Adityanath directs all possible assistance
Taking note of the incident, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed the District Magistrate, the Superintendent of Police, health authorities and the NDRF to provide all possible assistance to relief and rescue operations, an official spokesman said.
The Chief Minister expressed his condolences for the deceased and directed to the Director General of Police to take all necessary action, he added.
(With inputs from PTI)
