RailEnquiry

In a major train mishap at least four people were killed and scores of others injured after seven bogies of the 13009 Howrah-Dehradun Doon Express derailed near Mahrawa railway station in Jaunpur district in Uttar Pradsh on Thursday. The rescue operation was on till last reports came. The Dehradun bound train coming from Howrah was about to reach Varanasi in the next 20 minutes when the mishap took place. Five sleeper and two general compartments were derailed in the accident that took place at around 1:20 pm. Exact reason the derailment could, however, not be ascertained yet, as the railway officials are busy in rescue operation. The train was to reach Lucknow at 6 pm.Confirming four deaths Jaunpur DM Balkar Singh told HT over phone  "We have recued four bodies till now. I do not think that death count may increase."People living near the accident site were first to reach the spot to rescue people from the derailed boogies.According to reports, soon after the Doon Express left the Jaunpur railway station, it skidded off the track near the Mahrawa railway station about 38 km from Jaunpur. The exact reason of the accident was yet to be ascertained. A rescue team of medical experts rushed to the spot from the Jaunpur railway station. Along with the district magistrate, senior police officials have also rushed to the spot. An accident relief car (ACR) has left for the accident site from Varanasi railway station.

Divisional Railway Managar, NER, Lucknow Jagdip Rai is also expected to reach the spot. The railway board in Delhi has also announced to sent a team to the spot. Raiwlay Minister Mukul Roy is expected to reach the spot by 6 pm.

"A team from headed by DRM NR, Lucknow  Jagdip Rai has already left for the spot," a Northern Raiwlay official confirmed. The ADG Railways Gurdarshan Singh said that rescue operation was on and " we fear more bodies trapped inside the bogies.

“It was at around 1.20 pm, that the Doon Express derailed near Mahrawa railway station. It was only after half an hour that some local officials reached the accident site but could not offer any help to the victims,” Rashid Ahmad, an eye witness told HT.

Initially, it was only locals who rescued passengers who were trapped in the derailed bogies, he added.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee briefed the media on Thursday afternoon at the state secretariat in Kolkata and said said that the railway ministry has provided all sorts of help to the families of the victims of the accident.   "We have opened a helpline at Writers' (the state secretariat) to offer all sorts of help to the families of the victims of the accident. Jayanta Saha, our man who coordinates movement, would be on duty to ensure help to the families of the victims," she said.   "Mukul Roy (railway minister) would be visiting the spot," she said.

(With HT inputs)

"Five coaches of the Dehradun-Howrah Express have derailed. We don't have any information about the injured," said Neeraj Sharma, chief public relations officer, Northern Railway.

He said the reason behind the accident is not known.

A medical has been rushed to the spot.