Train Derailment In India: Several Casualties, Government Announces Compensation

At least seven people were killed and 30 seriously injured after a passenger train derailed near Rae Bareli district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday. The number of casualties are expected to rise as the rescue mission continues.

The injured were rushed to district hospitals in Rae Bareli, while more passengers remained trapped under the derailed coaches of the train, local television channel NDTV reported.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences for families who lost their relatives in the incident.

“Anguished by the loss of lives due to a rail accident in Raebareli. Condolences to the bereaved families and I pray that the injured recover quickly. UP Government, Railways and NDRF are ensuring all possible assistance at the site of the accident,” he tweeted.

Here are photos and videos of the incident:

Government Railway Police’s superintendent Saumitra Yadav confirmed several disaster management agencies were working tirelessly to rescue the victims of the accident, including National Disaster Response Force personnel from the cities of Lucknow and Varanasi, and officials from Rae Bareli’s district administration.

New Farakka Express 14003 was travelling from Malda in the state of West Bengal to New Delhi when the incident took place at 6:30 a.m. local time (9 p.m. EDT Tuesday). The train was entering Harchandpur railway station when its front portion derailed, causing nine of its coaches to go off track. The cause of the derailment was still unknown, television channel Times Now News reported.

Passengers aboard the train recalled hearing a loud noise before the derailment. The first responders at the scene were villagers from nearby rural areas.

Indian Railway Minister Piyush Goyal ordered Commission of Railway Safety to launch an investigation into determining the cause of the derailment. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) evaluated the derailment site to determine if foul play was involved. Sources close to the ATS operation said there had been no indication of a sabotage being the cause of the incident.

As both up and down routes of the track were closed off following the incident, more than 13 trains were either diverted or cancelled. According to Northern Railways officials, accident relief trains from Lucknow and Varanasi rushed to help detach the derailed coaches and begin repairs to the damaged track, daily Hindustan Times reported.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath offered his deepest condolences on the loss of life and directed the district magistrate, the superintendent of police, health authorities and the NDRF to provide all possible assistance to relief and rescue operations, an official spokesman said. The state government has also announced two lakh INR ($2,695) ex-gratia to the families of the decreased and 50,000 INR ($673) compensation for those who are seriously injured.