Kanpur [U.P.], Nov. 20 : The death toll in the Indore-Patna Express tragedy has mounted to 63, after the train derailed early morning on Sunday at the Hanshi-Kanpur intersection in Uttar Pradesh today at 3.20 a.m.
Around 153 people have been injured and several bodies are still trapped under the wreckage of the mangled coaches.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have reached the spot and have swung into action along with the police in pulling out bodies and providing aid to the victims.
Rescue operations have been underway since early morning and the death toll is expected to rise, Railway officials said.
"The entire train went turtle. About 63 dead bodies have been evacuated and about 150 people got injured. A lot of teams are on the spot along with NDRF, local police, doctors and Railway authorities. The rescue operation in on and it will be over in another 10-15 minutes," Daljeet Chaudhary, Additional Director General (Law and Order, U.P.) told ANI here.
Almost 14 coaches of the train derailed in the wee hours today causing the major accident resulting in the severe loss of lives.
Indian Railways has issued helpline numbers for assistance. Kanpur Rural DM helpline no: 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 no shortage of medicines and blood for the treatment of patients from the train accident.
Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu tweeted that an enquiry has been ordered into the accident and that strict action will be taken against all those responsible.
"Sr officers ordered to go to spot immediately, they are on way to accident site.local MP, MLAs other functionaries rushed.
MOS going. Rail,Dist,state, NDRF teams are geared up to deal with the accident (and) offer all kind of help.We r doing our best, to deal with sad accident," he said.
The Union Minister further said that ex-gratia will be announced for the unfortunate passengers who lost their lives and also to those who were injured.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences to the bereaved. Taking to Twitter, the Prime Minister said that he is anguished beyond words on the loss of lives and said that his thoughts are with the bereaved families.
"Prayers with those injured in the tragic train accident. I've spoken to @sureshpprabhu, who is personally monitoring the situation closely," he added. Home Minister Rajnath Singh offered his condolences saying he was deeply pained by the loss of lives and that his thoughts are with the bereaved families.
"I have spoken to DG NDRF and instructed him to rush NDRF teams to Pukhrayan. He is also leaving for Pukhrayan to oversee the rescue ops," Rajnath tweeted. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to personally monitor the relief operations.
Meanwhile, Railways Ministry spokesperson Anil Saxena told ANI that several people have been rushed to nearby hospitals with injuries, and the casualties may go up.
Source: ANI
