Dinesh Kumar, divisional railway manager, Northern Railways, Ambala, said a man and a woman died in the accident. The injured have been admitted to the PGI Hospital in Chandigarh, 30 km from the accident spot.
Some passengers said speeding might have led to the mishap. However, Kumar said that an inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the exact cause of the accident.
“One full coach <g data-gr-id="41">derailed,</g> while another derailed partially. A railway team has already reached the site. The administration has provided immediate relief to the injured,” he said.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has expressed shock over the tragedy and directed the Solan administration to provide all help to the victims.
Traffic on the 96-km-long and a century-old Kalka-Shimla Railway narrow gauge – a UNESCO heritage site and a tourist attraction since the Colonial era – remained suspended throughout the day and is likely to resume by Sunday. The last derailment on the Kalka-Shimla rail route occurred in December 2008.
Meanwhile, two women died and eight passengers were injured, when nine coaches of Mumbai-bound Duranto Express from Secunderabad derailed at <g data-gr-id="39">Martur</g> station, 20 km from Kalaburgi (Karnataka), around 2.15am on Saturday, Assistant Divisional Railway Manager (Solapur) K Madhusudhan said.
He said the deceased were identified as Pushpalatha (40) and Jyoti (28), adding that the injured were admitted to a hospital in Gulbarga.
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has ordered an inquiry by Commissioner of Railway Safety (Central circle) into the incident. “Saddened by <g data-gr-id="37">Duranto</g> accident. Ordered enquiry. Immediate medical relief & other assistance rushed. Chairman Rail Board asked to rush,” Prabhu tweeted.
President Pranab Mukherjee has also condoled the loss of lives in the accident.