At least 63 people were killed and more than 100 injured as 14 coaches of the Indore-Patna Express ran off the tracks today near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh of India this morning.
The incident took place around 3:00am near Pukhrayan, about 100 km from Kanpur, at a time when most of the passengers were asleep, reports NDTV.
Doctors and senior railway officials reached the spot soon after the accident and rescue operations were underway. The cause of the accident was not known immediately, Northern Central Railways spokesperson Vijay Kumar said according to NDTV.
63 people are killed as 14 coaches of the Indore-Patna Express ran off the tracks near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh of India on November 20, 2016. Photo: NDTV
Heavy machinery including gas cutters were being used to rescue trapped passengers, NDTV quoted Daljeet Singh Choudhary, a senior police officer as saying.
Most of the casualties are reported from two coaches which are severely damaged, officials said. Stranded passengers were being taken to a nearby station from where a special train will eventually take them to Patna.
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Narendra Modi ✔ @narendramodi
Prayers with those injured in the tragic train accident. I’ve spoken to @sureshpprabhu, who is personally monitoring the situation closely.
8:16 AM – 20 Nov 2016
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had spoken to Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu who was monitoring the situation closely, according to NDTV.
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Suresh Prabhu ✔ @sureshpprabhu
Rail Accident relief ,all rescue and relief staff are working on the accident spot.Injured rushed to hospitals, instructed best medical help
8:38 AM – 20 Nov 2016
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Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that the National Disaster Response Force has been also been sent in.
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu tweeted about the accident saying an inquiry had been ordered into the incident and announced compensation for the victims. “Strictest possible action will be taken against those who could be responsible,” he said.
