English
Kanpur, November 20: At least 121 people were killed and nearly 200 were left with with severe injuries after 14 coaches of the Indore-Patna Express derailed near Pukhrayan in Kanpur district today. The tragic accident took place at around 3 am near Pukhrayan, around 90 km from Kanpur, at the time when passengers were fast asleep. The death toll has been escalating. Relief and rescue operation is being carried out by Army and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) units.
It took few hours for rescue officials to reach the spot after which most of the victims were transferred to Kanpur civil hospital. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has reached the site of derailment to monitor the rescue operation.
63 identified, post mortem done on 45-49 bodies. Around 32 handed over to families: Kanpur DM Ravi Kant Singh on train tragedy pic.twitter.com/rjUWCa17Fc
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) November 20, 2016
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu reaches the accident spot where Patna-Indore express train derailed #KanpurTrainTragedy pic.twitter.com/ic14ucsIqx
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) November 20, 2016
Our priority is to provide as much assistance as possible to the affected people: MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan #KanpurTrainTragedy pic.twitter.com/UeArSNtn93
— ANI (@ANI_news) November 20, 2016
As rescue operation is under way police said that the death toll is expected to rise. The cause of the derailment is not known as of now, but some reports suggest that the derailment took place due to rail fracture. Suresh Prabhu has called for a high-level inquiry and also said that strict action will be taken against those found responsible for the accident. Also Read – Patna-Indore Express derailment: Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu announces Rs 3.5 lakh compensation to victims family
The Railway Ministry in a statement issued in morning said that the stranded passengers were moved from the derailment site to the Malasa station, further adding that the injured passengers are being taken to Kanpur hospital. More than 30 ambulances have been called into service and all hospitals in the district have been asked to stay on alert. Over 250 police officials and officials of NDRF had reached spot where rescue operation is carried on.
Soon after the tragic accident 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. PM Modi also offered his condolences to the family of deceased.
Suresh Prabhu also announced compensation of Rs 3.5 lakh to the next of kin of victim ad Rs 50,000 for those who are critically injured in the derailment incident. Suresh Prabhu also announced compensation of Rs 25,000 for those who sustained minor injuries. Also, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has announced exgratia of Rs 5 lakh for the families of those who were killed in the tragic accident and Rs 50,000 for seriously injured.
Meanwhile, Indian Railways have launched helpline numbers for victims – Pokhraya- 05113270239, Indore-07411072, Ujjain- 07342560906, Ratlam- 074121072, Orai-051621072, Jhansi- 05101072. A local helpline has also been issued – 05111-271050; Police-05111-271577; magistrate hospital duty: 9454416414.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has instructed Principal Secretary Health Arun Kumar Sinha to ensure that there is no shortage of any medical facilities like medicines, blood for the treatment of the patients. Akhilesh has also directed Director General of Police to personally monitor the relief operations.
#KanpurTrainTragedy: MoS Railways Manoj Sinha reaches the accident spot where Patna-Indore express train derailed. 97 dead, over 150 injured pic.twitter.com/zNiy24Dph3
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) November 20, 2016
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