Seven people were killed and about 20 others injured after five coaches of Delhi-bound MLDT NDLS Express derailed near Harchandpur area of Rae Bareli district in Uttar Pradesh early on Wednesday, officials said.

Divisional railway manager Satish Kumar confirmed the death toll and said about 25 were injured in the accident. Government Railway Police’s superintendent of police Saumitra Yadav, who was heading to the accident spot, said the casualty numbers were expected to rise.

The train number 14003 was going to New Delhi from Malda town in West Bengal.

Officials of the Northern Railways (NR) said accident relief trains from Lucknow and Varanasi districts have been already rushed to help detach the derailed bogies and repair the damaged track would start.

They said a portion of railway track was uprooted from its original position after the accident.

Divisional railway manager (DRM) NR Lucknow Satish Kumar said the rescue operation has been started.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the district magistrate (DM) and superintendent of police of Rae Bareli to provide all possible relief to the stranded train passengers.

Source: Hindustan Times

BDST: 1120 HRS, OCT 8, 2018

AH