KANPUR -- Two passengers were killed and 43 injured after 15 coaches of the Ajmer-Sealdah Express derailed on Wednesday morning near Rura Railway Station in Kanpur Rural district, the second rail accident in the region in two months.
#SealdahAjmer Express train derailment: NDRF team reaches the accident spot near Kanpur; 2 dead, 43 injured. Rescue operations underway pic.twitter.com/72tYmzOzM8
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 28, 2016
The incident took place around 6 AM near Rura Railway Station, 70 km from Kanpur, when the train was crossing a bridge over a dry canal in the area, North Central Railways PRO Amit Malviya said.
Two persons have been killed and 43 injured when 13 sleeper and 2 general coaches of the train derailed, IG (Kanpur range) Zaki Ahmed said.
#SpotVisuals 15 coaches of Sealdah-Ajmer Express derailed between Rura-Metha near Kanpur. Rescue and relief ops underway pic.twitter.com/INlqV9MUXD
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 28, 2016
Two of the coaches fell in a 'nehar' (canal), leading to fears of more injuries and even casualties, reported IANS.
Rescue operations are over with all passengers pulled out of the derailed coaches. While 33 injured passengers have been admitted to the district hospital, 10 have been admitted to the Hallet Hospital in Kanpur, he said.
Buses have been plied to drop the stranded passengers from the spot to Kanpur Railway Station.
Asked about the reason of the derailment, Railway spokesperson Anil Saxena said. said, "there was dense fog in the morning".
Following the accident, routes of at least 21 trains were diverted, North Central railway official Amit Malviya told IANS.
The incident comes a month after over 150 people were killed and more than 200 injured when 14 coaches of the Indore-Patna Express derailed in Kanpur Rural district on 20 November.
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said he was personally monitoring the situation.
"We are making alternate arrangements for passengers to continue with their onward journey," he said in a series of tweets.
The railway minister said all assistance is being provided to those injured.
"Personally monitoring the situation in wake of unfortunate derailment of Sealdah-Ajmer Express near Kanpur," he said.
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