New Delhi: Seven persons were killed after five coaches and the engine of Delhi-bound New Farakka Express derailed at Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh early on Wednesday.
Confirming the death toll, Northern Railway Divisional Railway Manager Satish Kumar said about 25 have been injured in the accident. Superintendent of police of Government Railway Police Saumitra Yadav, who was heading to the accident spot, said the casualty was expected to rise, according to a report published by Hindustan Times.
The injured passengers have been admitted to nearby hospitals.
The mishap took place while the train was heading towards New Delhi from Malda town in West Bengal.
The district administration and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams from Lucknow and Varanasi have reached the spot for rescue operations. Accident relief trains from these districts have already been rushed to help detach the derailed bogies and repair the damaged track.
A team of doctors in an accident relief medical van has also left for the accident spot.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the district magistrate (DM) and Raebareli SP to provide all possible relief to the stranded passengers.
Emergency helpline numbers set up at Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction:
BSNL-05412-254145 Railway-027-73677. Emergency helpline numbers set up at Patna Station – BSNL-0612-2202290, 0612-2202291, 0612-220229, Railway Phone No.- 025-83288