Home » national news » At least 43 injured as Ajmer-Sealdah express train derails in Kanpur
 
SPEED NEWS

At least 43 injured as Ajmer-Sealdah express train derails in Kanpur

News Agencies | Updated on: 11 February 2017, 5:44 IST

Hours after 15 coaches of the Sealdah-Ajmer Express derailed near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, the Railway Ministry on Wednesday said no deaths were reported till now and 44 people have been injured. However, initial media reports indicates at least two fatalities in the incident.

The accident occurred at around 6 am near Rura railway station, 70 km from here, when the train was crossing a bridge overhead a dry canal in the area, Northern Central Railways PRO Amit Malviya said.

Two persons were killed and 26 injured in the mishap when 13 sleeper and 2 general coaches of the train, 12987 Ajmer-Sealdah express, derailed, IG (Kanpur range) Zaki Ahmed said.

Rescue and relief operations have started at the accident spot with the district health department dispatching 14 ambulances and relief teams from Kanpur and Tundla, he said.

Buses have also been roped in to drop stranded passengers from the spot to Kanpur railway station.

The Delhi-Howrah route via Kanpur has been temporarily closed and the Shatabdi express from Delhi to Kanpur has been cancelled, Malviya said.

"A rescue team has rushed to the spot and a medical relief train from Kanpur has also been sent to the accident site. Currently we are focusing on relief and rescue operations," Railway spokesperson Anil Saxena said.

The Railways have issued the helpline numbers for Kanpur -- 0512-2323015, 2323016, 2323018 and for Allahabad -- 0532-2408149, 2408128.

A little over a month ago, the Indore-Patna Express train had derailed in Kanpur Dehat district of Uttar Pradesh, killing at least 119 people and injuring more than 150.

The Sealdah-Ajmer Express train accident comes a day after a Jet Airways flight skidded off the runway during takeoff from Goa leaving around 12 passengers wounded.

Also, later in the morning, an Indigo aircraft came face-to-face with a SpiceJet plane at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport but no injuries were reported.

-PTI

First published: 28 December 2016, 9:43 IST