Janta express train derails in UP
In Uttar Pradesh, two coaches of a train derailed in Rae Bareli district this morning. The accident took place at the railway station of Bachhrawan of town. AIR correspondent quoting official sources reports that so far, at least 15 people were killed and over 150 injured in the accident. The derailed train, Janta Express runs between Dehradun and Varanasi.
Talking to AIR Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Ashwini Kumar said that injured have already been admitted into hospitals and the rescue operation is in full swing. Evacuation is underway and hospitals in Lucknow are put up on high alert. The cause of the derailment was not immediately known.
Quoting railway sources in Rae Bareli, news agency UNI reports that the derailment occurred when the train was approaching platform number three of the station. The derailed coaches were near the engine
The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has announced compensation of 2 Lakh rupees for next of kins of the dead passengers and 50 thousand rupees for the injured. The Railways has issued help line numbers as 0535- 2211224 at Raebareli station and and 0135- 2624002 and 2622131 at Dehradun station.
Commissioner Lucknow Mahesh Gupta has confirmed that at least 15 dead bodies have been recovered from the smashed bogies. He did not rule out the increase in the numbers of deceased as rescue operation is still on. Railway sources said that as per initial reports the speed of the train was very high and probably the driver could not apply brakes in time.
However the real cause of the derailment could only be ascertained after the investigation. The villagers and people who immediately reached at the accident site for rescue were seen whole heartedly helping out passengers trapped in the smashed bogies as railway officials reached there after several hours. The rescue operation is still going on and the other track has been opened for down train.
President Pranab Mukherjee has condoled the loss of lives in the train derailment in Rae Bareli district of Uttar Pradesh. In his message to the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Ram Naik, the President said that he is sad to learn about the incident. He called upon the state government and railway authorities to provide all possible assistance to the bereaved families, as well as the best of medical attention to the injured.
Meanwhile, the issue of derailment of Janta Express in Rae Bareli figured in the Rajya Sabha today. Raising the matter, Pramod Tiwari of Congress said that safety of passengers should be the first priority of the railways.
Expressing concern over the incident, Parliamentary Affairs minister Venkiah Naidu said that the Minister of State for Railways is reaching the accident site to assess the situation.
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