Train derails in UP, five dead
1 Jun 2012 3:26 AM GMT
In a tragic train accident, five persons were killed and over two dozen others injured as Doon Express, on its way from Howrah to Dehradun, derailed near Koridia village, about 35 kilometres from Jaunpur in eastern Uttar Pradesh, on Thursday noon.
The district magistrate of Jaunpur Balkar Singh said that the train derailed near Mehrava railway station. He said that coach number 10 to 17 from the engine side derailed. This includes five sleeper class coaches and two AC coaches.
'Five coaches completely came off the track and were lying sideways,' A P Mishra, a senior railway official, said on telephone from the accident site.
The cause of the accident is not known, but the railway authorities say that the driver reportedly saw an 'obstruction' on the track. Officials have not ruled out mischief by anti-social elements in view of the Bharat bandh called by opposition parties on Thursday.
'Many people from the nearby villages came to the site as soon as a section of our train came off the tracks. There was a chugging sound, as if the train was running on stones,' Sukumar Paramanik, a local resident said.
The railways minister Mukul Roy left Kolkata for the accident site in the evening. He has ordered a high-level probe. 'I have ordered a high-level inquiry to find out why such repeated accidents are happening. We will take serious steps to prevent such accidents,' he said.
The minister also announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the families of each of those killed, Rs 1 lakh for the injured and Rs 25,000 for those who have sustained minor injuries.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has also condoled the death of the passengers and has announced free treatment for them.
The district magistrate of Jaunpur Balkar Singh said that the train derailed near Mehrava railway station. He said that coach number 10 to 17 from the engine side derailed. This includes five sleeper class coaches and two AC coaches.
'Five coaches completely came off the track and were lying sideways,' A P Mishra, a senior railway official, said on telephone from the accident site.
The cause of the accident is not known, but the railway authorities say that the driver reportedly saw an 'obstruction' on the track. Officials have not ruled out mischief by anti-social elements in view of the Bharat bandh called by opposition parties on Thursday.
'Many people from the nearby villages came to the site as soon as a section of our train came off the tracks. There was a chugging sound, as if the train was running on stones,' Sukumar Paramanik, a local resident said.
The railways minister Mukul Roy left Kolkata for the accident site in the evening. He has ordered a high-level probe. 'I have ordered a high-level inquiry to find out why such repeated accidents are happening. We will take serious steps to prevent such accidents,' he said.
The minister also announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the families of each of those killed, Rs 1 lakh for the injured and Rs 25,000 for those who have sustained minor injuries.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has also condoled the death of the passengers and has announced free treatment for them.
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