Gorakhpur: Two speeding passenger trains collided near here late Tuesday night, killing 14 people and injuring 45 others.
The Maduadeeh-Lucknow Krishak Express hit Barauni-bound express train from Lucknow from the side while it was on the loop line at Nandanagar railway crossing, about seven kilometers from here, at around 11 pm, Chief Public Relation Officer of North-Eastern Railway Alok Kumar Singh told a news agency today.
As a result of the collision, five unreserved general class coaches of the Barauni Express derailed. The Krishak Express tore through the fifth coach and badly damaged the sixth, seventh and the eight coach of the Barauni Express.
Union Railway Minister DV Sadananda Gowda, meanwhile, expressed profound grief over the loss of innocent lives in the accident.
The Railway Minister further announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of those who died in the tragedy, Rs 1 lakh each to those grievously injured and Rs 20,000 each to those who sustained less serious injuries.
Gowda has also directed to provide best treatment to people injured in the accident on LJN Divison of North East Railway.
"I am deeply hurt by the Train accident in Gorakhpur, my deepest condolences for the families of 14 innocent people who lost their life", Sadananda Gowda (@DVSBJP) tweeted.
"It's loco pilot's mistake, who neglected the signal, The loco pilot has been suspended, Strict action will be taken for negligence", Sadananda Gowda (@DVSBJP) tweeted later.
Alok Kumar Singh, the PRO of the North-Eastern Railways, admitted that the drivers of the Krishak Express overshot the red signal. A probe has been ordered by the Railway Board, he said.
Loco pilot of Krishak Express Ram Bahadur and assistant Loco pilot Satyajeet have been suspended for allegedly overshooting the signal. The train was going towards Lucknow while Barauni express was coming from the state capital.
"An inquiry has been ordered by the railway under Commissioner Rail Safety PK Bajpai to ascertain the cause of the incident," another spokesman Anil Saxena said.
Eyewitnesses said that several people were trapped in the mangled coaches after the collision.
"There was a big jolt. Then we saw a coach of the train upside down. My uncle came under the train. Many lost their limbs in front of my eyes," said one of them.
Talking to a news agency, Railway Board chairman Arunendra Kumar said the train track has been cleared and operations are to begin soon.
Officials said Gowda was heading to the accident site along with the Railway Board chairman.
Rapid Action Force, Gorkha Regiment and railway police have reached the spot and started the rescue work.
Rescue work was in full swing and the injured have been admitted to different hospitals in Gorakhpur.
Here are the helpline numbers:
Gorakhpur Cantt: 0551-3303365, 09794846980
Lucknow: 0522-2233042
Hajipur: 06224-272230
Muzaffarpur: 0621-2267048
Sonpur: 06158-221639
Baruni: 06279-231544
Samastipur: 06274-22613
Chhapra: 09006693233
Benares: 09919041978
The Maduadeeh-Lucknow Krishak Express hit Barauni-bound express train from Lucknow from the side while it was on the loop line at Nandanagar railway crossing, about seven kilometers from here, at around 11 pm, Chief Public Relation Officer of North-Eastern Railway Alok Kumar Singh told a news agency today.
As a result of the collision, five unreserved general class coaches of the Barauni Express derailed. The Krishak Express tore through the fifth coach and badly damaged the sixth, seventh and the eight coach of the Barauni Express.
Union Railway Minister DV Sadananda Gowda, meanwhile, expressed profound grief over the loss of innocent lives in the accident.
The Railway Minister further announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of those who died in the tragedy, Rs 1 lakh each to those grievously injured and Rs 20,000 each to those who sustained less serious injuries.
Gowda has also directed to provide best treatment to people injured in the accident on LJN Divison of North East Railway.
"I am deeply hurt by the Train accident in Gorakhpur, my deepest condolences for the families of 14 innocent people who lost their life", Sadananda Gowda (@DVSBJP) tweeted.
"It's loco pilot's mistake, who neglected the signal, The loco pilot has been suspended, Strict action will be taken for negligence", Sadananda Gowda (@DVSBJP) tweeted later.
Alok Kumar Singh, the PRO of the North-Eastern Railways, admitted that the drivers of the Krishak Express overshot the red signal. A probe has been ordered by the Railway Board, he said.
Loco pilot of Krishak Express Ram Bahadur and assistant Loco pilot Satyajeet have been suspended for allegedly overshooting the signal. The train was going towards Lucknow while Barauni express was coming from the state capital.
"An inquiry has been ordered by the railway under Commissioner Rail Safety PK Bajpai to ascertain the cause of the incident," another spokesman Anil Saxena said.
Eyewitnesses said that several people were trapped in the mangled coaches after the collision.
"There was a big jolt. Then we saw a coach of the train upside down. My uncle came under the train. Many lost their limbs in front of my eyes," said one of them.
Talking to a news agency, Railway Board chairman Arunendra Kumar said the train track has been cleared and operations are to begin soon.
Officials said Gowda was heading to the accident site along with the Railway Board chairman.
Rapid Action Force, Gorkha Regiment and railway police have reached the spot and started the rescue work.
Rescue work was in full swing and the injured have been admitted to different hospitals in Gorakhpur.
Here are the helpline numbers:
Gorakhpur Cantt: 0551-3303365, 09794846980
Lucknow: 0522-2233042
Hajipur: 06224-272230
Muzaffarpur: 0621-2267048
Sonpur: 06158-221639
Baruni: 06279-231544
Samastipur: 06274-22613
Chhapra: 09006693233
Benares: 09919041978
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