Rae Bareili: At least 30 persons were killed and around 150 others injured when the engine and two coaches of the Dehradun-Varanasi Janta Express derailed near Bachhrawan Railway Station on Friday.
According to railway spokesperson Anil Saxena, the train had to stop at Bachhrawan station but the locomotive driver overshot the signal, which resulted in the derailment of the engine and two adjoining coaches.
accident has mounted to 30, announced General Manager (Northern Railway) Ajay Kuthia.
Divisional Commissioner, Lucknow, Mahesh Gupta said, “There could be more casualties in the mishap”.
The accident occurred at around 9.30 am near Bachhrawan Railway station, about 50 km from state capital, Lucknow. reported zeenews.
Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha will visit the accident site later today.
Railways have ordered an inquiry and announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of those killed in the accident.
While Rs 50,000 will be given to those injured seriously, Rs 20,000 will be given to people with minor injuries.
As soon as the news of the accident spread, people from nearby villages rushed to the spot to help in rescue and relief operations.
The villagers helped in extricating passengers trapped in the mangled coaches of the train.
The spot of the accident presented a devastated sight with one of the bogies reduced to a mangle of steel.
Train movement on the Lucknow-Varanasi section of the Northern Railway has been disrupted due to the accident.
The injured passengers have been rushed to the district hospital. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs two lakh to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured. Talking to a news agency, Samajwadi Party leader Manoj Kumar Pandey said that the Uttar Pradesh government will do whatever is required.
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has instructed Chairman Railway Board AK Mittal and Member Traffic Ajay Shukla to rush to the spot.