At least 23 people lost their lives and over 50 others sustained injuries as 14 bogies of the Utkal Express (Puri-Nizamuddin-Haridwar) derailed in Khautali in Muzaffarnagar, about 100 kilometre from the national Capital, on Saturday around 5.45 pm.
The train, headed to Haridwar from Puri, was reported to be running at 100 kilometre/hour at the time of derailment. The train was flung off the tracks with one coach ramming into a nearby house.
Initial inputs from railway technical officials said the train driver applied sudden brakes as he spotted some repair works in progress on the tracks. This was later also corroborated by Uttar Pradesh Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar. He said the accident was caused by the sudden application of brakes. “There was some work on the tracks, but no flagging was done,” Kumar stated.
A joint investigation team comprising the railways and the UP Anti-Terrorist Squad rushed to the spot. They are also expected to probe the sabotage angle.
This is the third major rail accident in two years.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who took stock of the situation of Indian Railways early in the day through a presentation made by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, expressed his regret over the accident.
Modi had summoned Prabhu to take updates on the Railways as the PMO was flooded with conflicting reports about the present scenario of the railways. “Extremely pained by the derailment of the Utkal Express in Muzaffarnagar. Railway Ministry, UP Govt are doing everything possible and providing all assistance needed,” PM tweeted.
Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha and Railway Board Member Traffic Md Jamshed rushed to the spot with all the top railway ministry officials to take stock of the situation.
Prabhu said two NDRF teams, comprising 45 personnel each, and two canines were mobilised at accident site and an enquiry has been ordered to ascertain cause of accident. Also, the railways despatched medical vans and all efforts are being taken to ensure speedy relief and rescue operations. “Strict action to be taken against any lapse,” Prabhu said.
Railway Ministry spokesperson Anil Kumar Saxena said 14 coaches have derailed and in present condition the prime focus is on rescue and relief operations and not on finding reasons for the accident. “Since darkness was impeding rescue operations, the power department officials had been directed to ensure that there was no shortage of electricity,” Saxena said in a statement.
The local administration officials have rushed to the spot and more casualties were feared. The coaches were being cut and opened up to ensure that nobody was trapped inside. Hospitals have been instructed to provide free treatment to the injured passengers. Besides, 35 ambulances, bread, butter, 1,000 food packets, additional private and State-run buses were being arranged. Medical colleges, district hospitals and large number of private hospitals were being prepared to receive patients.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath enquired about the accident and directed officials to take all possible action. Yogi has directed two of his Ministers to reach the site to expedite rescue and relief operations.
ADG law and Order Anand Kumar said he is not in a position to comment on the reason behind the derailment at the moment, however, he said casualties may be high. Several trains were diverted running on the section.
In a statement Congress president Sonia Gandhi expressed shock and pain at the unfortunate derailment of the Kalinga Utkal Express. Expressing her deep concern on the growing number of train accidents and railway safety, she urged the Railways and State Government authorities to take adequate and immediate relief and rescue measures. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi too expressed his shock over the accident.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced Rs five lakh ex-gratia to the kin of any Odia passenger dead in Utkal Express derailment. He also announced Rs 50,000 relief for those injured in the accident. Patnaik expressed concern at the loss of life in the derailment and directed commerce and transport department to work in coordination with Railway department and the UP Government to provide help to injured and kin of victims.