Rae Bareli: At least seven passengers were killed on Wednesday morning after nine coaches and the engine of Farakka express train heading to New Delhi from Malda town in West Bengal derailed here in Uttar Pradesh’s Rae Bareli district.
According to the passengers, the train derailed after a loud noise. People from nearby villages were first to reach the accident site for rescue of passenger.
Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Anand Kumar said that heavy duty gas cutters were being used to extricate the bodies and all those who were still trapped in the mangled coaches.
Earlier it was said that five coaches and the engine of the New Farakka Express derailed near Harchandpur in Rae Bareli around 6.05 am.
Besides those killed in the mishap, at least 60 people have been inured and rushed to the district hospital in Rae Bareli.
The death toll was expected to rise as several have been critically injured, said an official.
Rescue operations were being handled by State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams from Allahabad and Varanasi, who were rushed to the scene of the accident, the official added. Besides that, an NDRF team from Lucknow was expected shortly.
Owing to this derailment, at least 13 trains have been diverted or short terminated.
The authorities have been directed to ensure prompt relief and rescue operations.
Chairman of the Railway Board Ashwani Lohani would be visiting the accident site.