At least 22 passengers were killed after four bogies of Dehradun-Varanasi Janata Express derailed at Bachhrawan in Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli district on Friday, divisional commissioner Mahesh Gupta said.
According to preliminary information, the four bogies derailed as the train was passing through Bachhrawan railway station, 50km from Lucknow, around 9am. The reason behind the mishap that left around 150 injured was yet to be ascertained.
Lucknow IG Zaki Ahmad, who is supervising the relief operation, told HT over phone one of bogies was badly damaged and efforts were being made to cut it to rescue the trapped people.
The state government rushed medical teams and ambulances to the spot for relief work, and railway officers from Lucknow also reached the spot soon after the accident.
UP cabinet minister Manoj Pandey, who visited the site, said relief measures had been launched. He said senior police officers had also reached the spot to supervise relief operation.
He added arrangements had been made in hospitals in Lucknow and Rai Bareli for the treatment of injured people.
Minister of state for railways Manoj Sinha is likely to visit the spot in the afternoon.
Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, expressing concern over the mishap, announced Rs. 2 lakh each to the families of those who were killed and Rs. 50,000 each to the injured people.
Train accidents are common in India. The country's railroad network is one of the world's largest and carries more than 23 million passengers each day. Most accidents are blamed on poor maintenance and human error.
Helpline Nos:
Lucknow: 09794830973, Varanasi: 0542-2503814, Pratapgarh: 0534-2223830, Rae Bareli: 0535-05352211224
(With agency inputs)
