Mahakaushal Express derails in UP, over 40 injured

Jhansi, March 30:

Over 40 passengers were injured after eight coaches of the Mahakaushal Express derailed on Thursday morning in Uttar Pradesh, officials said.

The incident occurred around 2 a.m. when the express train that runs between Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh and Hazrat Nizamuddin in New Delhi derailed between Laadpur and Supa near Kulpahar station, a railway official said.

The injured included many women and children. The condition of at least four of them is said to be critical.

The coaches that derailed included four air-conditioned coaches, one sleeper, two general and one SLR (Seating cum Luggage Rake) coach.

Following the accident General Manager of North Central Railways and other senior railway officials rushed to the spot.

Chief Minister Adityanath Yogi also rushed Health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh to the accident site to oversee rescue and relief operations, an official told IANS in Lucknow.

The North Central Railways’ official told IANS that an inquiry has been ordered.

The train with the remaining coaches and passengers left from the accident site at 6.45 a.m., he said.

A few trains between Allahabad and Jhansi were diverted after the accident.

Earlier in 2017, 41 passengers died and over 60 were injured after nine coaches of the Hirakhand Express derailed in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district.

In November 2016, at least 150 people died and over 300 were injured after 14 coaches of the Patna-Indore Express derailed near Kanpur on November 20. (IANS)