At least seven people were reported to have died and many injured after 11 coaches of the superfast Seemanchal Express heading to Delhi derailed in Bihar’s Vaishali district early on Sunday morning. 

All the injured passengers have been moved to nearby Hospitals, District Hospitals and Railway Hospital. The accident took place on the Barauni- Bachhwara-Hajipur Single Line in Sonpur division of the East Central Railways.

Officials said the number of dead is likely to go up.

The Bihar government has announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 compensation to the injured.

The derailment took place around 3.58 am at Sahadai Buzurg. One general coach, one AC coach B3, three sleeper coaches - S8, S9, S10 - and four more coaches have derailed, East Central Railway spokesperson Rajesh Kumar told news agencies. Initial investigation into the accident has found that the train derailment took place due to a rail fracture.

All passenger trains on this route have been cancelled.

The superfast train, heading from Jogbani to Anand Vihar Terminal in New Delhi, was reportedly running at full speed when the accident took place. Of the 11 affected coaches, three coaches capsized while the remaining coaches are reported to have gone off the track. 

Source: Hindustan Times

BDST: 1144 HRS, FEB 3, 2019
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