At least two people have lost their lives and more than 20 were injured in a rail accident in Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh this afternoon. 21 out of the total 23 coaches except the engine of Chandigarh Dibrugarh Express derailed in the accident on the Gonda-Gorakhpur route near Mankapur station. The Ministry of Railways has ordered a high-level inquiry into the Gonda train derailment incident. This inquiry will be apart from the Commissioner of Railway Safety enquiry.
The Ministry also announced an ex-gratia of ten lakh rupees each to the family of the deceased, 2.5 lakh rupees for grievous injury, and 50 thousand rupees for minor injuries. Teams of NDRF and SDRF reached the spot and the relief and rescue work is almost complete now. CPRO of North Eastern Railway told Newspersons that all the passengers of the Chandigarh Dibrugarh Express have been shifted to Mankapur station via buses and other vehicles. A special train will take them to their respective destinations very soon. Investigation into the causes of the accident has started. He said that some people suspected the that loco pilot heard a loud voice before the derailment.
The relief commissioner office of Uttar Pradesh informed that no one is now trapped in the coaches which derailed this afternoon. Only the clearance and Restoration work of the rail track is left which will be completed very soon. The railways has released helpline numbers. The numbers are 8957409292 for Lucknow and 8957400965 for Gonda.
