Patna-Indore Express train derailment toll touches 133

The tragedy occurred yesterday when 14 coaches of Patna-bound 19321 Indore- Patna express train derailed near Pukhraya station under Jhansi section of North Central railway. 

Inspector General of Police (IG- Kanpur zone) Zaki Ahmed today confirmed the number of deaths.

Around 74 injured passengers were admitted to different hospitals in Kanpur where condition of around 21 people was stated to be critical.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Kanpur Dehat, Prabhkar Choudhury told UNI here today that the death toll in the accident has risen to 133 after some more bodies were recovered from the derailed bogies.

He said 109 bodies have been identified of which 59 were from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh-25, Bihar-23 and one each from Gujarat and Maharashtra. Over 97 bodies have also been handed over to their near and dear ones.

Meanwhile, Commissioner, Railway Safety (Eastern circle) P K Acharya reached the spot last evening and has started probe into the incident.

Railway sources here said all the derailed bogies have been removed from the track and the rail engineers are placing the new tracks and by this afternoon, the rail route could be opened for the rail traffic.

Five teams of the NDRF, along with other security forces and railway officials, were engaged in the rescue and relief work. Over 200 doctors were also pressed into service in Kanpur.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh each to the family of the deceased besides Rs 50,000 to critically injured and Rs 25,000 for those with minor injuries.

UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakhs to the families of the deceased, Rs 50,000 for the critically injured and Rs 25,000 for those with minor injuries.

Similarly, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has announced Rs 3.5 lakh compensation for the next of the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

According to North-Central railway, Jhansi Division, under whose jurisdiction the accident occurred, 14 coaches of Indore- Rajendra Nagar Express, which derailed are seating-cum-luggage rake, GS, GS, A1, B1, B2, B3, BE, S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6. The derailment occurred at around 0310 hrs on Sunday morning when the train was going towards Kanpur station.  

Some passengers of S1, who escaped the accident with minor injuries, said they had heard some noise coming from the wheels of their coach after it departed from Jhansi. They said the train was stopped twice to rectify the fault but they could not do so and the train continued its journey and later the mishap occurred.

Minister of state for Railways Manoj Sinha too admitted that jamming of wheel could be the reason for the derailment.

Of the 14 coaches derailed, four were tumbled on each other including two AC coaches. Most of the casualties were from S1, S2, BE and B3.

Meanwhile, over two dozen long distance express and passenger trains between Jhansi and Kanpur has been diverted or cancelled due to the accident.