At least four passengers were killed and over three hundred were injured when 8 coaches including three AC coaches of Jammu Tawi bound Muri Express derailed near Atsarai railway station in Sirathu at Kaushambhi, between Allahabad and Kanpur stations under North Central Railway here on Monday afternoon. Additional Director General of Police (law and Order), Daljeet Singh. However, claimed that so far the news of death of only two persons reached them but he said that the mishap was a major one and all efforts were on to rescue the victims and shift them to hospital. The injured were shifted to Allahabad for treatment. Singh said that 4 companies of PAC have been rushed to the spot for rescue work while DM and SP of Kaushambi were also camping on the spot.
Chief Minister, who showed his concern over the accident immediately get in touch with chief secretary, Alok Ranjan and directed him to forward all possible help to save the life of the passengers. He also announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the family members of those who died in the mishap. CPRO of North eastern railway, Vijay Kumar said that relief train along with doctors have also reached the spot. He said that the train was on in a high speed when the train derailed as it stopped at Sirathu station which was just 8 kilometers before the mishap spot. The train was running over 3 hours late and it started from Sirathu at 1:39pm and the accident spot was around 57 kilometers away from Allahabad station.
“The incident took place at about 1:39pm between Sirathu and Athsarai stations, where eight bogies of the Ranchi-Jammu Tawi Express derailed”, Kumar said, adding, the “accurate information regarding deaths and injuries were awaited at the zonal headquarters”. The 18101 Muri Express was coming from Tatanagar and was going to Jammu Tawi. He said that senior railway officials from Allahabad have rushed to the spot. The rail traffic on the busy Allahabad-Delhi route has been paralysed due to the mishap. At least three trains have been cancelled while a number of others diverted following derailment of Jammu-bound train here this afternoon. “Both up and down lines have been affected by the
derailment of Muri Express between Sirathu and Athsarai stations. 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”, he said. Besides, a number of train which were to pass through the Allahabad Junction are now being run on a diverted route. The Kalka-Howrah Mail would be running via Kanpur-Banda-Manikpur-Cheoki. “The Delhi-Alipurdwar Mahananda Express and Anand Vihar Terminal-Jogabni Express have been diverted to the Kanpur-lucknow-Mughalsarai route”, he said. The Delhi-bound North-East Express and the Howra-bound Kalka Mail would be running via Cheoki-Manikpur-Banda-Kanpur. “A number of trains have also been diverted to the Prayag-Unchahar-Kanpur route”, he added.