KANPUR: Early hours of Sunday the 20th of November 2016 saw one of the most terrifying railway accidents. The Indore-Patna express derailed from its tracks near Kanpur leaving 120 killed and more than 200 injured. The cause of the derailment is not yet known for sure but the first onsite information shows that it might be due to a rail fracture.
Suresh Prabhu, the Minister of Railways, expressed his condolences and was at the scene to access the damage while also announcing that Rs 3.5 lakh ex-gratia for the families of those killed and Rs. 50,000 for those grievously injured will be provided. He also mentioned that 4,000 food packets, 2000 water bottles, 1500 cups of tea have been supplied free of cost till now to passengers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi too conveyed his concern and upset saying “Anguished beyond words on the loss of lives due to the derailing of the Patna-Indore express. My thoughts are with the bereaved families,” in a tweet.
In the meanwhile, a special train to ferry people from Kanur to Patna is being arranged while the cause of the accident is being looked into. “We cannot establish a prima facie cause yet. It is a serious accident. Sabarmati Express passed through same route safely just nine minutes prior to the accident,” said S.K. Agarwal DRM of Jhansi division. But it is being now speculated that the train that had the capacity to carry only 1,000 passengers or so was actually overcrowded due to people travelling without tickets. If this really turns out to be the cause of the mishap then the Railway Minister would do good to enforce much more stringent measures to stop people from boarding train without reservations.
For now, a team of 250 rescue workers along with army doctors are taking care of the various injured while looking for other citizens that must have been trapped under the rubble. Fortunately, they are being helped by the villagers around the area and medical aid is being given at the earliest.
Name List of injured passengers Travelling by train no 19321 ex Indore to Rajendranagar pic.twitter.com/pkTMcIdBnO
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) November 20, 2016
Name List of Passengers died in the accident of train no 19321 pic.twitter.com/3LSdIMluCN
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) November 20, 2016
