Gorakhdham Express collision due to 'failure of equipment'

NEW DELHI: Railways today conceded that the Gorakhdham Express mishap on May 26 which claimed lives of 29 passengers, was caused due to 'failure of the equipment'.

As per the preliminary report of the Commissioner of Railway Safety, North Eastern Circle, the accident was caused due to failure of rail and hence the accident was classified under the category of 'Failure of Equipment - Permanent Way', Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

Gorakhdham Express collided with a goods train near Sant Kabir Nagar in Uttar Pradesh leaving 29 passengers dead and 74 injured, 16 of them grievously, on May 26.

Gowda said medical relief and rescue teams were rushed to the accident site without delay.

Railways has also announced an enhanced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of deceased, Rs 1 lakh each to grievously injured and Rs 20,000 each to those with simple injury.

In addition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced ex-gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the grievously injured.