Kaifiyat Express derailment: Prabhu directs officials to reach accident site

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has directed senior officials  to rush to Uttar Pradesh where Delhi-bound 12225 Kaifiyat Express derailed near Auraiya this morning and take stock of the relief and rescue operations.

In a series of tweets, the Minister said, "Have directed senior officers to reach the site immediately."

Giving information about the incident, Mr Prabhu said, "A dumper hit the locomotive of the Kaifiyat Express, resulting in derailment of coaches. Some passengers have received injuries and shifted to nearby hospitals. I am personally monitoring situation, rescue operations".

The Railways has also issued helpline numbers in this regard. Delhi: 011-23962389, 23967332; Hazrat Nizamuddin: 011-24359748; Anand Vihar Station: 09717648382, 0971763291 and Ghaziabad: 09412715210.

Ten coaches and the engine of the Delhi-bound Kaifiyat Express derailed near Auraiya in Uttar Pradesh at around 0238 hrs today after it collided with a dumper.

Injured passengers have been shifted to nearby hospitals and relief train has been sent to the accident spot from Shikohabad Junction.

The incident comes just days after the derailment of 18477 Kalinga Utkal Express at Khatauli, 25 km from Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh on August 19, in which 23 passengers died.