14 coaches of the Indore-Patna Express ran off the tracks near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh this morning
Home Minister Rajnath Singh has asked the Director General of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to rush to Pukhrayan, about 100 km from Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, where the Indore Patna Express derailed or ran off tracks early on Sunday morning.
More than 97 people have died. The Home Minister, who also spoke to Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu on Sunday morning, has instructed NDRF chief OP Singh to provide all assistance to the Railways and the Uttar Pradesh government in relief and rescue operations.
Officials said more than 150 people are injured in the accident, which happened at around 3 am, when passengers were deep in sleep.
Three NDRF teams have been rushed from Varanasi and Lucknow to the site of the accident to help with rescue operations. There are 45 personnel in each team.
Teams of doctors too are at the spot. All hospitals in the area have been alerted and 30 ambulances were deployed to transport the injured. Hundreds of policemen are also present.
14 coaches of the train derailed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that he is "anguished beyond words."
Suresh Prabhu has ordered an investigation into the accident.
Helpline Numbers: Patna - 0612-2202290, 0612-2202291, 0612-2202292, 025-83288 | lndore - 0741 1072 | Ujjain - 0734 2560906 | Ratlam - 07412 1072 | Mugalsarai - 05412-251258, 05412-254145 | Hajipur - 06224-272230 | Jhansi - 05101072 | Orai - 051621072 | Kanpur - 05121072 | Pokhrayan - 05113-270239- with inputs from PTI