Muri Express derails in UP, four killed

Bhubaneswar: At least four persons were killed and over 100 injured when the Tata Nagar-Jammu Tawi Muri Express, which passes through Rourkela in Odisha, derailed in Uttar Pradesh around 2 pm today.

However, there is no report of any Odia passenger being affected in the mishap so far even as further details are awaited. The toll is feared to go up, said officials.

According to reports reaching here, the accident occurred between Sirathu and Athsarai railway stations in the Allahabad-Kanpur sector in Kaushambi district of Uttar Pradesh.

A total of eight bogies – 3 AC, 3 sleeper, one general and the pantry car – have been damaged due to the derailment. One of the coaches capsized and fell into a ditch nearby, the reports added.

Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha and higher railway officials have rushed to the spot. Rescue and relief operations are going on there. Local villagers rushed to the rescue even before officials of the district administration reached the spot.

The North-Central Railway (NCR) has meanwhile set up a helpline – 1072 – where people after prefixing the local STD code can enquire about the passengers travelling on the train. A relief train along with a crane and cutters has also been rushed to the spot while senior railway officials were also at the spot.

According to sources, 40 'keys' of the rail track were found missing on the same spot Sunday and the local police there had been apprised about the discovery by villagers, said sources, adding that even a heavy 'jack' was found along the railway track. Confirming this, a senior official said that all aspects including sabotage were being probed.

The UP government has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of those who died. Meanwhile, traffic on the Allahabad-Kanpur railway sector has come to a halt following the derailment.