Gonda, India: Three people were killed and 20 others injured after eight coaches of the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express derailed near Gonda in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday, officials said.
Gonda District Magistrate Neha Sharma said eight coaches of the train got derailed, adding that the injured are being rushed to hospital and relief operations are on at the site.
The driver of the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express claimed that he heard a loud explosion right before several coaches of the train derailed, however, DGP Prashant Kumar said there was no explosion.
A 40-member medical team and 15 ambulances arrived at the spot for rescue and relief work.
“Train number 15904 Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express that left Wednesday night from Chandigarh derailed near Gonda Junction station between Motiganj and Jhilahi railway stations at around 2:37 pm on Thursday under the jurisdiction of North Eastern Railway (NER),” Sabyasachi De, Chief Public Relations Officer, Northeast Frontier Railway, said.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took cognisance of the incident and directed the local administration to assist the affected passengers. The chief minister has asked the officials to ensure proper medical treatment of the passengers injured in the accident.
Ministry of Railways announced an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakhs to the family of the deceased, Rs 2.5 lakhs for grievous injury and Rs 50,000 to the minor injured. Apart from the CRS enquiry, a high-level enquiry has been ordered into the incident.
The Indian Railways has started the relief operation and medical vans have reached the accident site. Restoration work was also commenced at the track which concluded on Friday morning.
(Source: NEWS18)
