AMN
President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have expressed heartfelt condolences to families of deceased in the Indore-Patna express trains accident. They also prayed for speedy recovery of the injured. The Prime Minister spoke to Mr Suresh Prabhu who is personally monitoring the situation. Meanwhile, Minister of State, Manoj Sinha has reached the spot.
The death toll has risen to 121 in the Indore-Patna express accident near Pukhrayan of Kanpur Dehat district in Uttar Pradesh early this morning. More than hundred passengers were injured when 14 coaches of the train derailed early this morning. The incident took place at around 3 AM near Pukhrayan, about 100 kms from Kanpur.
The district magistrate of Kanpur Dehat has confirmed the death toll. He said, 20 bodies including six women have been identified. Talking to AIR, Inspector General Kanpur police zone Zaki Ahmed said, rescue and relief operations are in full swing.
NDRF teams and medical teams have reached the spot. Buses have been pressed into service to help passengers complete their journey. District administration along with railway officials are also carrying out rescue and relief operations.
The Railways has announced ex-gratia of 3.5 lakh rupees each for families of those killed, 50,000 rupees for seriously injured and 25 thousand rupees for minor injury. Prime minister Narendra Modi has also exgratia of two lakh rupees each for the next of kin of those killed and 50,000 rupees for those seriously injured. This is over and above any other assistance.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced 2 lakh rupees each for the deceased. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has also announced ex-gratia of 5 lakh rupees in case of death and 50,000 for seriously injured. Mr Yadav has asked the Director-General of police to personally monitor the rescue operations. Railway minister Suresh Prabhu has ordered an inquiry into the accident. He said, the Commissioner, Railway Safety, will inquire into reasons behind the derailment.
The Railways have released helpline numbers for the people- Ujjain – 07342560906, Ratlam – 074121072, Orai – 051621072, Jhansi – 05101072, Pukhrayan – 05113270239. The death toll may go up as some passengers are still feared trapped.