Rescue operation is still underway as the death toll in one of the worst rail disasters in the country that took place when the Indore-Patna Express derailed near Kanpur, has reached 142.
“Though the chances of any recovery (of bodies) are remote, but we don’t want to take any chances, hence continuing the rescue operation,” an NDRF personnel said.
Speaking on the train tragedy in Rajya Sabha, Rail Minister Suresh Prabhu describe the the incident as unfortunate and said that a forensic inquiry has been ordered.
"Forensic enquiry has been ordered to look into all possible angles. Guilty will not be spared" Prabhu said.
A special train carrying around 300 Kanpur accident survivors reached the Bihar capital early on Monday.
Commenting on the train tragedy, BSP chief Mayawati said if the money spent by the government on bullet trains was rather utilized to improve our railway tracks, the accident could have been averted.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Sunday expressed his condolence over loss of lives in the derailment of Indore-Patna Express as he announced Rs 2 lakh as ex-gratia to the kin of each deceased hailing from Bihar and cancelled releasing a report card of his government on completion of one year in office.
In his condolence message, Kumar described the derailment of the train in Kanpur rural area as sad and expressed deep grief over the tragedy - the worst train accident in recent years that claimed over 100 lives and injured over 200 others.
The Chief Minister also ordered cancellation of a function to release the annual report card of his government on completion of one year in office and announced compensation to the families of the deceased and those seriously injured.
”The next of the kin of those people of Bihar who were killed in the Indore-Patna Express accident will be given Rs 2 lakh as ex-gratia while Rs 50,000 would be given to the seriously injured passengers in the accident,” Kumar said in a release.
The ex-gratia payment would be made from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, the release said.
Patna District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Agarwal told reporters here that a helpline has been opened for the people.
”Besides, we have also made arrangements for the treatment of the injured people in the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) and the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) in Patna,” he said.
Ambulances have been stationed at the junction so that the injured persons, who are coming to Patna by a special train from Kanpur, could be taken to the two hospitals straight away, Agarwal said.
Out of 64 injured persons being treated at Kanpur, 17 are from Bihar, he said.
Agarwal along with Bihar State Disaster Management Authority Vice-Chairman Vyasji, Additional Superintendent of Police (Railway) A S Thakur and East Central Railway (ECR) Chief Operations Manager Vasudev Rai are camping at the Patna junction.
Agarwal said the state government has also made arrangements for vehicles at the Patna junction for taking the victims and their relatives to their homes.
A special train carrying injured has left Kanpur at about 2 PM and would reach Patna by 11 pm, Rai said.
ECR has issued helpline numbers of Mughalsarai, Patna and Hajipur, ECR Chief Public Relations Officer Arvind Kumar Rajak said.
Helpline no for 19321, Indore-Rajendranagar accident Patna - BSNL - 0612-2202290/0612-2202291/0612-2202292, an ECR statement said here.
The mobile number for help at Patna junction is 7992388463 and Railway - 025-83288, Rajak said in the statement.
Vyasji said: “Our first and foremost priority is to inform about the latest position to the relatives of the deceased and injured in the accident.”
The government would send relatives of the victims to Kanpur if they desired, he said.
The grandfather and grandmother of Kunal Kapur, who reached Patna junction to inquire about the well-being of his relatives, have died in the accident while his three other relatives were injured in the incident, Additional SRP A S Thakur said.
Munna Kumar, a resident of Godda district in Jharkhand,told PTI that he spoke to his brother Mayank alias Ankesh, who was in the ill-fated train, in the morning and said he (Mayank) was safe.
”Mayank told me that he would reach Patna junction by special train and so I am waiting for him at the junction. After that Mayank’s mobile phone got switched off,” Munna said.
Highlights:
The incident took place at around 3 AM near Pukhrayan, about 100 kms from Kanpur.
More than 100 people have died, rescue operation is still underway, Daljeet Singh Chaudhary, ADG, Law & order ,UP, said.
The death toll could rise further as few of the injured are in critical condition.
Indian Railways issues Helpline numbers: Jhansi- 05101072,Orai- 051621072, Kanpur- 05121072, Pokhrayan- 05113-270239
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* MoS Railways Manoj Sinha reaches the accident site.
* The assistance announced by PM Narendra Modi is over and above any assistance announced by the Railways.
* PM Narendra Modi has announced ex gratia of Rs. 2 lakhs from PMNRF for the next of kin of those killed and Rs. 50,000 for those seriously injured
* I shall be rushing to the accident site to personally monitor the situation: Suresh Prabhu, Minister for Railways
* Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan announces Rs 2 lakhs compensation for the families of deceased; Rs 50,000 for those critically injured.
* Two more NDRF teams from Ghaziabad airlifted and landed at Kanpur.
* 90 killed in Indore-Patna Express derailment: SP, Kanpur Dehat, Prabhakar Chowdhury: PTI
* In constant touch with UP CM Akhilesh Yadav. We are working together to provide all relief: Suresh Prabhu
* This is in addition to the compensation which will be available through Railway Claims Tribunal: Suresh Prabhu
* Rs.50 thousand in case of grievous injury and Rs.25 thousand in case of simple injury: Suresh Prabhu
* Enhanced amount of ex-gratia compensation to the victims of this unfortunate accident:Rs.3.5 L in case of death: Suresh Prabhu
* Kanpur Rural DM helpline no: 05111-271050; police-05111-271577; Magistrate Hospital duty 9454416414
* UP CM Akhilesh Yadav announces ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to deceased families. Rs 50,000 for serious injury, Rs 25,000 for minor injury
* Incident happened around 3-3:15 AM, at least 60 people lost their lives, death toll to go up as 2 coaches yet to be cut: Javeed Ahmad, DG UP
* One army column, team of doctors and paramedics deployed at the spot to help in rescue ops.
* Two NDRF teams from Varanasi & one NDRF team from Lucknow rushed to accident spot to assist in rescue ops
* Several trains cancelled or diverted.
* NDRF team reaches accident site to help in the rescue and relief operations.
* Prayers with those injured in the tragic train accident. I've spoken to Suresh Prabhu, who is personally monitoring the situation closely: PM Modi
* Anguished beyond words on the loss of lives due to the derailing of the Patna-Indore express. My thoughts are with the bereaved families: PM Modi
* All the hospitals in the neighboring districts have been activated.Private hospitals of Kanpur has been put on alert to accommodate patients: CM Office, UP
* Deeply pained by loss of lives caused by derailment of Patna- Indore Exp near Kanpur.My thoughts are with bereaved families: Home Minister Rajnath Singh
* Strictest possible action will be taken against those who could be responsible for accident,All possible mobilisation for relief initiated: Suresh Prabhu, Minister for Railways
* Enquiry team will start investigation for cause of accident immediately All necessary assistance provided to the affected, we are taking care: Suresh Prabhu, Minister for Railways
* Ex gratia to unfortunate passengers who died and to injured will be given: Suresh Prabhu, Minister for Railways
* Medical assistance of all kinds is offered. Rail mobile medical units rushed to site.All injured rushed to hospitals, immediate medical help: Suresh Prabhu, Minister for Railways
* Akhilesh Yadav instructs Chief Secy, UP to personally monitor the help services and relief ops of the train.
* Akhilesh Yadav asked Chief Secy, UP to pool in all resources from the neighboring districts to enable quicker relief ops: CM Office
* Home Minister Rajnath Singh is helping with NDRF team to work with the rescue. Local administration and police are all working to help the people affected: Suresh Prabhu, Minister for Railways
* Sr officers ordered to go to spot immediately, they are on way to accident site.local MP, MLAs other functionaries rushed. MOS going: Suresh Prabhu, Minister for Railways
* Patna-Indore express train derailed:14 coaches which derailed are Seating cum Luggage Rake,GS,GS,A1,B1/2/3,BE,S1/2/3/4/5/6: Indian Railways
* All rescue relief work on to deal with unfortunate accident. All medical and other help rushed.Enquiry ordered. Situation monitored closely: Suresh Prabhu, Minister for Railways, tweets
* Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav directs DGP to personally to monitor relief op's of Train 9321 accident near Kanpur. All support to be extended.
* Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav directs PS Health to personally monitor the Ambulance/Hospital services for the train 9321 accident.
* Senior District officials have reached the accident spot of Train 9321.More ambulances are rushed from Kanpur city. Special UPSRTC buses too: CM Office, GoUP tweets
* 14 coaches of Indore-Patna exp derailed near Kanpur. We are yet to confirm the number of casualties. Rescue opearations are underway: Indian Railways spokesperson Anil Saxena said.
* Senior officials and medical teams have been rushed to the spot. We are also in contact with district officials," Anil Saxena
Northern Central Railways spokesperson Vijay Kumar said that doctors and senior railway officials have reached the spot. The cause of the derailment was not known immediately.
Though casualties are feared, there is no official confirmation so far.
Buses are pressed into service to help passengers complete their journey, Kumar said, adding that there are possibilities of casualties in the S2 coach which is severely damaged.
District administration along with railway officials are carrying out rescue and relief operations. Four AC coaches have also been derailed, he added.
Meanwhile, DIG (Kanpur range) Rajesh Modak said that two bogies of the train have been severely damaged and many people are feared dead.
