Ten people were killed and 45 injured, 9 of them seriously, in three train accidents in Uttar Pradesh early on Saturday amid dense fog and near zero visibility conditions.
Eight women and two men were among those killed when the Bhiwani-Gorakhpur Gorakhdham Express rammed the stationary Prayagraj Express at Panki railway station in Kanpur district, Harishchandra Joshi, GM, North Central Railway, Allahabad Zone, said. Eight of the bodies have been identified.
The accident took place when the two trains coming from Delhi were on the same track, he said. Though fog appeared to be the reason behind the mishap, an inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause.
Commissioner, Railway Safety, will start the inquiry on Monday. Railways have announced a compensation of Rs five lakh to the families of those killed, one lakh to those seriously injured and Rs 10,000 for those with minor injuries.
The Delhi-Allahabad Prayagraj Express was at the station when the Gorakhdham Express hit it from behind in dense fog, PRO of North Central Railway (Allahabad) Amit Malviya told PTI.
Rescue operations continued till late in the afternoon, following which the track was cleared of the damaged bogies. A PTI correspondent at the spot saw the mangled remains of the last coach of the Prayagraj Express.Gas cutters were used to extricate those trapped inside.
Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi, who was travelling to Allahabad on the Prayagraj Express, was unhurt. Congress MP from Bahraich Kamal Kishore and his wife Poonam Kishore were travelling in the Gorakhdham Express.
Rail services on the Delhi-Kanpur section was disrupted due to the accidents involving five passenger trains.
According to Railway officials, eight trains were rescheduled, 52 were running late and 9 each were cancelled and diverted. Passengers had a harrowing time after being stranded for several hours.
The guard of Prayagraj Express was killed in the accident, a railway official said. The ladies unreserved coach next to the guard's compartment was severely damaged in the collision resulting in the
In another accident, the Bihar-bound Delhi-Sitamarhi Licchavi Express rammed into the stationary Magadh Express at Sarai Bhopat near Etawah at around 8:00 a.m., railway officials said.
The driver of the Licchavi Express was seriously injured as the engine of the train ploughed into the Magadh Express in foggy conditions. While the brake van of the Prayagraj Express derailed, the engine of the Gorakhdham Express was damaged.
In Pratapgarh, 61 kms from Allahabad, the Sarayu Express rammed into a tractor trolley at an unmanned railway crossing. Two passengers sustained minor injuries. The engine of the train was damaged in the accident.
The injured were admitted to Hallot, Raja Ram and BLC hospitals in Kanpur. PTI
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