Kanpur, Dec 28 (NIA) – Two people were killed and over 40 injured, as 15 coaches of a passenger train derailed in Kanpur, in India’s north on Wednesday, police said.
The Sealdah-Ajmer express train was derailed between Rura -Metha in Kanpur, leading to disruption of rail traffic on the Kanpur route, Railway officials said.
Senior Police officials said that eight of the passengers brought out of the wrecked coaches were believed to be in a critical state.
The NDTV reported that the coaches of the 12987 Sealdah-Ajmer Express went off track in dense early morning fog, when the train was crossing a bridge over a dry canal, nearly 70 km from Kanpur. Two coaches toppled off the bridge and fell into the canal bed.
The accident took place around 5.20 am. The cause is not known yet.
Rescue teams are currently at the site clearing wreckage and searching for any trapped passengers.
“Immediate medical help being provided to the injured. Mobilized resources,directed all concerned to ensure rescue and relief,” tweeted Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu.
“Thorough investigation will be carried out to ascertain the cause,” Mr Prabhu said in another tweet, adding that he was personally monitoring the efforts.
This is a second rail accident in the region in two months. On November 20, nearly 150 passengers were killed in their sleep and nearly 200 injured after the Indore-Patna Express train slid off track near Kanpur.
