Indore-Patna express train derails in Kanpur; death toll crosses 100

At least 100 people were killed and about 226 injured, 76 of them seriously, on Sunday when 14 coaches of the Indore-Patna express train derailed near Pukhrayan area in Kanpur’s Dehat district. Railways officials say the number of casualties could rise.The incident took place at around 3 a.m. near Pukhrayan, about 100 kms from here, reports PTI.

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.

Railways has also released helpline numbers —

Indore: 07411072,

Ujjain: 07342560906,

Ratlam: 074121072,

Orai: 051621072,

Jhansi: 05101072,

Pokhraya: 05113270239.

In the wake of the Uttar Pradesh train derailment tragedy, 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.

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.

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.

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.

Trains diverted

Several trains along the route have been diverted or cancelled, reports PTI.

Jhansi-Lucknow Intercity and Jhansi-Kanpur passenger train cancelled.

Train numbers 12542,12522,12541,12534 have been diverted.

District administration along with railway officials are carrying out rescue and relief operations. Four AC coaches have also been derailed, he added.

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Source:The hindu