40 feared dead as Gorakdham Express rams into goods train

However, NE Railway’s CPRO Alok Singh said the accident was caused due to derailment. Lal said around 40 people are feared killed in the accident that completely damaged the first bogey of the train. As per initial reports, both the trains came on the single track due to signal error. Three general coaches of Gorakhdham Express were badly crushed while six others were derailed.

Locals were the first to rush for rescue operations. The district administration said that 40 people had died in the accident. However, railway officials did not confirm the number of dead and injured.

‘People are saying this based on their own assessment. There are lot of people inside the coaches who need to be rescued first,’ said CPRO, Ner, Alok Kumar Singh.

Officials in the Railway Board said the mishap occurred due to derailment of the express train.

They said six coaches of the train then rammed into a stationary goods train standing on the adjoining track at the station.

Out of the six coaches, four were general coaches and two were AC coach — AC first class and AC two tier.

Railways has ordered an inquiry into the mishap by commissioner Railway Safety (Northeast circle) PK Bajpayee.

They have also ordered a compensation of Rs one lakh to the family of those killed and Rs 50,000 for those seriously injured.

A sum of Rs 10,000 will be given to those who sustained simple injuries.

Meanwhile, PM-designate Narendra Modi offered condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the train tragedy. Congress president Sonia Gandhi also expressed grief at the loss of lives in the accident.