Driver overshot signal, applied emergency brakes
Union home minister Rajnath Singh and minister of state for railways Manoj Sinha met some of those injured in Lucknow and took stock of the situation. The accident took place around 9.30 am as the train was coming to a stop at Bachhrawan station, about 47 km from Lucknow.
According to a railway spokesman, the train was to stop at Bachhrawan station, but the driver apparently overshot the signal, after which he probably applied emergency brakes that resulted in the derailment of the engine and two coaches.
One of the coaches, which was a general compartment, has been badly crushed in the impact. The other coach was a guard compartment, which was vacant. Passengers travelling in other coaches were also injured.
Lucknow divisional commissioner Mahesh Gupta said that at the accident site 15 bodies had been evacuated, and the possibility of the death toll going up could not be ruled out. Gas cutters were being arranged to cut open crushed compartments to pull out passengers.
Twenty-four medical teams, along with a team of doctors from Lucknow’s King George Medical University were rushed to the site to treat the injured. Those who were critically hurt were shifted to the Trauma Centre and the Sanjay Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences in Lucknow for treatment.
The Railways have ordered an inquiry and announced compensation of `2 lakhs each to the next of kin of those killed in the accident.
UP Chief Minister Akh- ilesh Yadav has also announced an ex-gratia of `2 lakhs to the kin of those killed and `50,000 to each injured passenger. Those with minor injuries will be given a sum of `20,000 each.
Rajni Tiwari, one of the passengers with minor injuries in the neck and hand, told reporters that people from nearby villages had rushed to the spot within minutes of the accident and helped in relief and rescue operations.“Some of them got water from their homes and even provided first aid,” she said.