The Kalinga Utkal Express derailed near Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday evening. (Reuters)
Thirteen coaches of the Puri-Haridwar Kalinga Utkal Express derailed at Khatauli near Muzzafarnagar in western Uttar Pradesh on Saturday evening, killing over 20 people and injuring at least 200. The railways announced a compensation of Rs 3.5 lakh for the family of those killed and Rs 50,000 for those seriously injured. Following the incident, four railway officials have been suspended and chief track engineer of Northern Railways has been transferred. Three other officials have been sent on leave. The accident comes less than a year after the Indore-Patna Express derailed near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh in November, 2016, leaving over 100 dead.
Muzaffarnagar authorities have set up a control room to assist families of those affected. The numbers are: 0131-2436918, 0131-2436103 and 0131-2436564.
People can also dial the following numbers released by the railways:
FIR registered against unknown persons
An FIR has been registered against unknown persons in the derailment of Kalinga Utkal Express, says police: PTI
Audio clip to be looked into: Railway official
Audio clip of a purported conversation between a railway employee and a mediaperson, in which the former claimed yesterday's tragedy in Khatauli was due to "negligence", will be looked into, says a top railway ministry official: PTI
Based on prima facie evidence, four railway officials have been suspended. General Manager of Northern Railways and Divisional Railway Manager, Delhi have been sent on leave. Chief Track Engineer of Northern Railways has been transferred. According to sources, Member Engineering, Railway Board has also been sent on leave.
22 people killed, 203 injured: ADG Law & Order
22 casualties so far, 203 persons injured and undergoing treatment in various hospitals, says ADG Law & Order: ANI
Four railway officials suspended
Four railway officials suspended and chief track engineer of northern railways has been transferred. Three other officials have been sent on leave.
No evidence of any terror outfit involved in accident: ADG Law & Order
Prima facie and on the basis of inquiry done so far by ATS there is no evidence of any terror outfit involved in the accident, says ADG Law & Order Anand Kumar: News agency ANI
Over 50 discharged, 102 still receiving treatment: UP minister
More than 50 passengers who received injuries in the Muzaffarnagar train accident have been discharged from hospitals while 102 others are still receiving treatment, the Uttar Pradesh government said today.
Family of each of those killed must get Rs 25 lakh as compensation: CPI(M) The CPI(M) today said the compensation given by the railways to the families of the 21 people killed in the Utkal Express derailment near Khatauli was not sufficient and it should be increased.
"Family of each of those killed must get Rs 25 lakh as compensation, and the state government must bear the cost of treatment of the injured," secretary the party's Uttar Pradesh unit Dr. Girish said in a statement.
A total of Rs 25 lakh paid so far as ex-gratia to some affected passengers and the kin of the dead: Jamshed on Utkal Express derailment: Railway board member
Was There A 'Repair On, Stop Train' Note? Station Officials Say 'No Idea'It now appears that some repair work on the tracks was in progress, of which the station master of Khatauli, the nearest station, claimed to have been unaware.
Rajiv Kumar Kulshreshtha, the general mamager of the Northern Railways, said track repair equipment were found yesterday at the site. "It is said that there were some work going on and the necessary precautions were not taken," he said.
JUST IN: Railway Commissioner (Safety) will initiate detailed probe from tomorrow into derailment of Utkal Express: Mohd Jamshed, Member Traffic (Railways).
Railway Minister was constantly monitoring the situation. He directed us for the restoration work: Railway board member Mohd Jamshed
Uttar Pradesh police releases list of 13 people dead in the Utkal Express accident
Khatauli Station Chief Rajendra Singh denies the charge saying he 'was unaware of repair works'
JUST IN: Railway engineers now blame Station chief saying 'We knew about repair works and had asked trains be delayed'
Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu has ordered an inquiry into the Utkal Express derailment, saying he has asked authorities "to fix responsibility on prima facie evidence by end of day".
Restoration top priority: Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu
Injured count revised again, stands at 156 now, here is the list
Cause of the derailment still remains unclear, death toll revised: Railways spokesperson
- The number of dead in the Utkal Express now 21 and at least 97 have been injured.
- 6 out of the 13 damaged coaches removed. 2 cranes pressed into action, using services of other cranes as well.
- Northern Railway General Manager is present at the spot. Hope that all damaged/affected coaches will be removed by afternoon.
- Affected rail route is expected to be cleared and traffic is likely to be restored by 7 pm today
- Injured have been shifted to Meerut, Muzaffarnagar hospitals.
Trains On Meerut Line Cancelled Or Diverted Till 6 PM"All services on Meerut line, on which the Khatauli falls, have been either cancelled or diverted through other routes till 6 PM, as the tracks are yet to be cleared of mangled train coaches," DRM of the Delhi Division, R N Singh said.
Track repair and restoration is still going on at the site where the train derailed in Uttar Pradesh. Several trains on this route have been cancelled
'Coach flew over another, rammed house': Eyewitness recounts train horror Manoj Baliyan, 42 and his family are still shaken as one end of the mangled sleeper coach (S2) of the train, which had rammed his house's porch, shattering its facade, is leaning precariously on the house.
"A coach had even rammed the boundary wall of a college building near our house," said Manoj Baliyan, who runs a shop in the area.
"There was a massive thud and one of the coaches flew over the pantry car and rammed our house's porch," he told PTI.
Update: Number of injured in the train accident now 75, Railway Ministry releases list
The derailment of the Puri-Haridwar Utkal Kalinga Express near Muzaffarnagar resulted in cancellation of three train services, including Ambala-Delhi-Ambala Intercity Express and Haridwar-Puri Utkal Kalinga Express, commencing journey Sunday: news agency PTI
The number of injured has gone up to 72.
Details of trains diverted due to the derailment.
Scene at the accident spot before sunset.
Medical van from Delhi, Saharanpur and Accident Relief Train from Ambala have rushed for derailment site: Ministry of Railways
The train had left Puri at 9 pm on Friday night and was to reach Haridwar at 9 pm tonight
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announces Rs. 5 lakh ex-gratia relief to therelatives of Odia passengers killed in the Puri-Haridwar Utkal Express derailment
The death toll has gone up to 23. Over 40 people have been injured.
35 ambulances, bread butter, 1000 food packets, extra private and UP state transport buses, volunteers mobilized from Meerut: reports NDTV's Alok Pandey
Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu announces ex gratia of Rs. 3.5 lakhs for those who lost their lives, Rs. 50,000 for seriously injured. Rs. 25,000 for people with minor injuries
Over 20 people have been injured.
President Ram Nath Kovind's tweet:
10 killed in Muzaffarnagar train derailment, says Anand Kumar, ADG Law and Order: ANI news agency.
4 killed in train derailment in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar, says Railways Spokesperson: ANI news agency
The derailment could affect movement of trains on the busy Northern Railway route.
The Sub-Divisional Magistrate told NDTV that about 50 people have been rescued so far.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his sadness. He tweeted that all help will be provided.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have mobilised for rescue operations.
Here are the helpline numbers.