New Delhi/Lucknow: 15 people were killed and over 40 injured on Friday when two coaches of the Dehradun-Varanasi Janata Express derailed in Raebareli district of Uttar Pradesh, police said.
An official of the railway ministry, however, told IANS in Delhi that three people were killed in the accident.
"Two coaches of the Dehradun-Varanasi Janata Express derailed in Bachhrawan town after locomotive brakes of the train failed," the official said.
"As per the reports received till now, we have come to know that three passengers were killed and over a dozen injured. Apart from the engine, two passenger coaches were derailed," he said.
Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha told reporters in Delhi: "A relief van is on its way to the site."
The coaches were severely damaged in the accident and the traffic on the route was disrupted, railway officials said.
The state government has announced ex gratia payment of Rs.2 lakh each for the family of those killed and Rs.50,000 for those who were injured.
A team of six doctors with 20 ambulances rushed to the site, officials told IANS in Lucknow.
