Eight coaches of the Jabalpur- Nizamuddin Mahakaushal Express derailed in the wee hours of Thursday near Mahoba station in Uttar Pradesh.
According to initial reports, around nine passengers of the Delhi-bound train were injured in the incident which took place at 2:07 am, the Chief Public Relations Officer, North Central Railway said. 52 passengers were injured, 10 of them were serious.
Railways have ordered an inquiry into the derailment which left 400 metres of track damaged. The mishap
disrupted rail traffic on the route with services of 14 trains disrupted, railway officials said.
In lucknow, ADG (law and Order) Daljit Chaudhary said the incident took place around 2.20 am when eight bogies of the train derailed injuring some 52 people of which two suffered “serious fractures” and have been referred to a Jhansi hospital.
Some have been discharged after first aid while others have been admitted to local hospitals, the ADG said, adding that ambulances and teams of doctors reached the spot and monitored the relief and rescue operations.
Chaudhary said prima facie there was nothing suspicious but all aspects will be investigated as it is a serious issue.
Railway officials and teams of ATS and NDRF are at the spot and investigations are on to ascertain the cause of the mishap, the ADG said.
SP (Mahoba) Gaurav Singh said the incident took place between Mahoba and Kulpahad railway stations near Supa village.
UP Minister for Health Siddharth Nath Singh, who rushed to the spot,
announced a monetary assistance of Rs. 50,000 each to the seriously
injured and Rs. 25,000 to those who suffered minor injuries, the SP said.
Railway Board member (Traffic) Mohd Jamshed told PTI in Delhi that
an inquiry into the derailment will be conduted by a senior railway official.
Asked whether it was an act of sabotage or any defect in the rolling
stock led to the mishap, he said, "Nothing can be ruled out till
the report is submitted."
On some recent cases involving security around rail tracks in different
parts of the state, the ADG said investigations proved there was
no terror link but all cases are being thoroughly probed with the
help of experts.
All coaches that derailed today were conventional ones and manufactured
at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai. Though a few coaches tumbled,
they did not climb over each other as it happens in such cases, resulting
in minimum damage.
The train with 10 coaches left the accident site at 6.48 AM.
Railways have pressed 15 buses into service for carrying about 200
passengers, who were travelling in affected coaches, to Jhansi.
At least 17 helplines have been made operational at different stations
en route to assist relatives of passengers travelling in the train.
Besides, railways have made catering arrangement for the passengers
on the site.
The derailment has affected services of 14 trains, out of which
seven were diverted and an equal number of trains cancelled.
Jamshed said the line is expected to be restored by midnight as
the damaged section of the track has to be replaced.
The official said an accident relief train has also been rushed to the site and the injured have been given first-aid.
Around eight coaches from the rear side of the train derailed between Mahoba and Kulpahar stations, the CPRO said.
Senior officials, including the general manager of North Central Railway MC Chauhan, have rushed to site and rescue operations are on.
The cause of derailment is yet to be ascertained. Railway officials have operationalised helplines at Jhansi, Gwalior, Banda and Nizamuddin stations to disseminate information to relatives of the passengers.