New Farakka Express derailed near Harchandpur railway station in UP's Raebareli.
Highlights
- New Farakka Express derailed near Harchandpur station at around 6:05 am
- NDRF teams are at the site of accident for rescue operations
- The train was head to Delhi from Malda in West Bengal
Seven people have died and around 30 people have been injured after a Delhi-bound train derailed in Uttar Pradesh's Raebareli early this morning.
Nine coaches of the New Farakka Express derailed near the Harchandpur railway station in Raebareli at around 6:05 am, Northern Railway Divisional Railway Manager Satish Kumar said. The train was headed to New Delhi from Malda town in West Bengal.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams from Lucknow and Varanasi are at the site of accident to rescue passengers who may have been trapped.
A team of doctors in an accident relief medical van has been rushed to the site and emergency helpline numbers have been set up at the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya junction in Mughalsarai, officials said. Ten women and six minors are among the injured, railway officials added. The injured passengers have been taken to nearby hospitals. The remaining passengers are being sent to Lucknow and from there they will be sent to Delhi by a special train, officials said.
All train lines on the route where New Farakka Express derailed have been blocked.
Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has ordered an investigation into the accident which will be conducted by the Commission of Railway Safety, Northern Circle.
All train lines on the route where the accident took place have been blocked and officials fear that the casualties may rise. Sources said Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani was headed to the accident site.
Rescue teams reached the site of accident after the New Farakka Express derailed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, "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. UP Government, Railways and NDRF are ensuring all possible assistance at the site of the accident."
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath asked 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. He has also directed the most senior police office in the state to take all necessary action.
Yogi Adityanath announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for the families of those who died in the accident and Rs 50,000 for those who are seriously injured.
In November 2016, 150 people died after the Indore-Patna Express derailed in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur.
Emergency helpline numbers set up at Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction:
BSNL-05412-254145 Railway-027-73677. Emergency helpline numbers set up at Patna Station - BSNL-0612-2202290, 0612-2202291, 0612-220229, Railway Phone No.- 025-83288
(With inputs from PTI, IANS and ANI)