Six dead, 50 injured as train derails

Six persons were killed and 50 others injured when the engine and two coaches of the Dehradun-Varanasi Janta Express derailed near Bachrawan Railway Station today.

According to preliminary reports, the locomotive driver apparently overshot the signal and as a result, the engine and two adjoining coaches derailed, Railway Spokesperson Anil Saxena said in Delhi.

"Six persons were killed and about 50 persons were injured in the accident," the spokesperson said.

Railways have ordered an inquiry and announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of those killed in the accident.

While Rs 50,000 will be given to those injured seriously, Rs 20,000 will be given to people with minor injuries.

As soon as the news of the accident spread, people from nearby villages rushed to the spot to help in rescue and relief operations.

The villagers helped in extricating passengers trapped in the mangled coaches of the train.

The spot of the accident presented a devastated sight with one of the bogies reduced to a mangle of steel.

Train movement on the lucknow-Varanasi section of the Northern Railway has been disrupted due to the accident.

The injured passengers have been rushed to the district hospital.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs two lakh to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured.

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has instructed Chairman Railway Board A K Mittal and Member Traffic Ajay Shukla to rush to the spot.

Railways is focusing on the relief and rescue operation and the injured persons have been shifted to the nearby hospital, the spokesperson said, adding, MoS Railway Manoj Sinha is also expected to rush to the site to monitor the operation.