Two killed, 31 injured as train derails in U.P.’s Gonda
Accident occurred between Motiganj and Jhilahi railway stations around 2.37 p.m.; loco pilot, passengers heard a loud explosion just before derailment; Rail Ministry orders highlevel probe
Two people were killed and 31 injured as the ChandigarhDibrugarh Express derailed and eight of its coaches overturned in Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday.
“Train number 15904 ChandigarhDibrugarh Express that left Wednesday night from Chandigarh derailed near Gonda Junction station between Motiganj and Jhilahi railway stations around 2.37 p.m. on Thursday under the jurisdiction of North Eastern Railway [NER],” said Sabyasachi De, Chief Public Relations Officer for the Northeast Frontier Railway.
Tribhuvan Narayan, the locopilot, is safe. He, as well as other passengers, reportedly heard a loud explosion seconds before the derailment of the eight coaches.
A 40member medical team and 15 ambulances arrived at the spot and more medical teams and
ambulances were rushed there as well, said Uttar Pradesh Relief Commissioner G.S. Naveen Kumar.
Probe committee
The Union Railway Ministry has ordered a highlevel committee to investigate the incident, apart from an inquiry to be conducted by the Commissioner of Railway Safety.
Railway officials said that it was too early to draw definitive conclusions and that the cause of the accident is still being ascertained. Experts said there are multiple possible causes of derailment, including defects in the tracks or the bogies.
Due to the accident, all upanddown movement along the line was stopped.
Two passenger trains between Gonda and Gorakhpur were cancelled and 11 trains diverted. Affected passengers were transported in buses from the accident site to Mankapur station, from where the Railways arranged for a special rake to transport them to the train’s final destination of Dibrugarh in Assam. In a post on X, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma said that he is monitoring the situation closely and that teams are on standby for support.
An enhanced exgratia amount of ₹10 lakh has been announced for the kin of those who died, along with ₹2.5 lakh for those with grievous injuries, and ₹50,000 to minor or simple injury has been announced by the railways to the bereaved.
The relief commissioner’s office issued helpline numbers for Gonda (8957400965) and Lucknow (8957409292). The Railway Board issued helpline numbers for Commercial Control (9957555984), Furkating (9957555966), Mariani (6001882410), Simalguri (8789543798), Tinsukia (9957555959), and Dibrugarh (9957555960).