Jammu-bound train derails in UP; 2 killed, 9 injured

KAUSHAMBI: Two persons, including a woman, were today killed and nine injured when 10 bogies of a Jammu-bound train went off the rails here, disrupting train traffic for hours on Allahabad-Kanpur route.

Earlier in the day, Railways officials in Delhi had said that three persons had lost their lives in the incident. An official statement from the Railway Ministry later put the number of the dead at two.

The Muri Express, on way to Jammu Tawi, derailed between Sirathu and Atsarai railway stations and one of its bogies overturned, Chief PRO North Central Railway Vijay Kumar said.

The deceased have been identified as Mohini Sethi of Allahabad and Govind Ram of Jharkhand.

"9 injured in the incident have been rushed to a hospital, where condition of three was stated to be critical." IG (Law and Order) A Satish Ganesh in Lucknow said.

"The train was running about three hours behind schedule and the mishap took place about an hour after it had crossed the Allahabad Junction," NCR PRO Amit Malviya said.

He said 20 ambulances from Allahabad and Fatehpur have been deployed for rescue operations and accurate information on deaths and injuries were awaited at the zonal headquarters.

Relief and medical teams have been rushed to the site. Senior officers of police, administration departments and railways have also reached there.

The Commissioner, Railway Safety, will conduct the inquiry to ascertain the cause of derailment, Railways spokesperson Anil Saxena said in Delhi.

While Rs 2 lakh will be given to the kin of the passenger who died, Rs 50,000 will be given for serious injury and Rs 20,000 for minor injury, he said.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has also announced an ex-gratia of Rs two lakhs for the deceased and directed Chief Secretary Alok Ranjan to make available all necessary help to the victims.

A train has been sent from Allahabad to ferry stranded passengers, he added.

The derailment affected train traffic. At least three trains were cancelled, a number of others diverted and 170 passenger and freight trains along the Allhabad-Kanpur route delayed.

"Both up and down lines have been affected by the derailment. As a result, the Allahabad-Kanpur Intercity Express and the Sangam Express, scheduled to leave for Meerut this evening, have been cancelled.

"Similarly, the Anand Vihar Terminus-Kolkata Express has also been cancelled," Malaviya said.