J K News Today
NEW DELHI, November 20
At least 100 people were killed and another over 150 injured when 14 coaches of the Indore-Patna Express derailed near Pukhrayan in Kanpur Dehat district of Uttar Pradesh early Sunday morning today.
The tragic accident took place at around 3am near Pukhrayan, about 100 kms from Kanpur, when the passengers were fast asleep, the eyewitnesses told JKNT over phone
Rescue operations are under way since early morning and the death toll is expected to rise, railways officials said.
Immediately, there were no details available of the cause of one of the worst railway accidents in the history of railways in India . There were however some indications that the derailment might have been caused by a rail fracture .
The ministry said that the stranded passengers are being moved from site to the Malasa station, adding that the injured passengers are being taken to the Kanpur Dehat hospital. “All hospitals have been asked to be on alert. More than 30 ambulances have been pressed into service,” IG (Kanpur range) Zaki Ahmed told a news agency.
250 police officials are carrying out the rescue and relief operations.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have also reached the spot for the rescue operations .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the kin of deceased and Rs 50,000 for seriously injured in the accident. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also offered his condolences to the bereaved. The UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has announced Rs. 5 lakh to next of kin of the each of the dead in the accident.
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has announced ex-gratia of Rs.3.5 lakhs for those killed in derailment and Rs.50,000 for those injured. Prabhu has ordered an a probe saying,”An inquiry team will start investigation for cause of the accident. Guilty won’t be spared.
