7 dead, several injured after train derails in India

Seven people have died and around 30 people have been injured after a Delhi-bound train derailed in Uttar Pradesh's Raebareli early this morning.

Eight coaches of the New Farakka Express derailed near the Harchandpur railway station in Raebareli at around 6:05 am, Northern Railway Divisional Railway Manager Satish Kumar said. The train was headed to New Delhi from Malda town in West Bengal.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams from Lucknow and Varanasi are at the site of accident to rescue passengers who may have been trapped.

A team of doctors in an accident relief medical van has been rushed to the site and emergency helpline numbers have been set up at the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya junction in Mughalsarai, officials said. The injured passengers have been taken to nearby hospitals. The remaining passengers are being sent to Lucknow and from there they will be sent to Delhi by a special train, officials said.

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has ordered an investigation into the accident which will be conducted by the Commission of Railway Safety, Northern Circle.

All train lines on the route where the accident took place have been blocked and officials fear that the casualties may rise. Sources Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani is on his way to the accident site.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, "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."

7 Dead, Several Injured After New Farakka Express train derails in Uttar Pradesh's Raebareli https://t.co/njxmBn7212 pic.twitter.com/eNzo21wisw

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath asked 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. He has also directed the most senior police office in the state to take all necessary action.

Yogi Adityanath announced Rs. 2 lakh compensation for the families of those who died in the accident and Rs. 50,000 for those who are seriously injured. 

In November 2016, 150 people died after the Indore-Patna Express derailed in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur.