India train derailment: Rescuers race to reach trapped passengers as death toll rises

Updated November 20, 2016 20:00:54

Photo: The train derailed near the city of Kanpur. (AP: KK Productions)

Rescue workers in India are trying to free people trapped in a passenger train after it derailed in northern Uttar Pradesh, killing at least 90 people and injuring dozens more.

Key points:

• Fourteen carriages of an express train derail near Indian city of Kanpur
• Officials say death toll is likely to rise as rescuers continue to reach those trapped inside wreckage
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi expresses concern over incident, Government to investigate cause

India's Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the Patna-Indore Express train derailed near the city of Kanpur and that the National Disaster Response Force was overseeing the rescue efforts.

Police told news agencies AP and Reuters the death toll had risen to 90, while local media quoted Daljeet Singh Choudhary, Uttar Pradesh additional director-general for law and order, as saying it was at 96.

"Still many more passengers are trapped," said Anil Saxena, a senior railway official in New Delhi.

It was not immediately clear what caused the incident.

Some carriages crumpled as they crashed into others at around 3:10am (local time), trapping hundreds of people inside.

Medical teams were providing first aid near the site while the more seriously injured were moved to hospitals in Kanpur, Inspector Anand Mishra said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to express his condolences.

External Link: Tweet from Narendra Modi: "Prayers with those injured in the tragic train accident. I've spoken to @sureshpprabhu, who is personally monitoring the situation closely."

"Anguished beyond words on the loss of lives due to the derailing of the Patna-Indore express. My thoughts are with the bereaved families," Mr Modi said.

Survivors recount train horror

The death count is likely to rise as rescuers look through the wreckage, according to witnesses and officials.

The packed train, operated by the Indian Government, derailed as more than 500 passengers were sleeping, survivors said.

Photo: At least 90 people have been killed. (AP: KK productions)

"Suddenly I could feel that the carriage was overturning. I immediately held the metal rod near the bathroom door," said Faizal Khan who was travelling with his wife and two children, all of whom survived.

Another passenger, Satish Kumar, said that the train was traveling at normal speed when it stopped suddenly.

"It restarted, and then we heard a crash. When we came out of the train, we saw a few coaches had derailed," said Kumar, whose carriage remained standing on the track.

External Link: Tweet from India's Ministry of Railways: "All rescue relief work on to deal with unfortunate accident. All medical and other help rushed. Enquiry ordered. Situation monitored closely."

Kanpur is a major railway junction and hundreds of trains pass through it every day.

Anil Saxena, spokesman for Indian Railways, said several trains had been diverted to other routes.

Train accidents are common in India, with most accidents occurring due to human error or ageing equipment.

Trains are the popular mode of transport for millions of Indians and around 23 million passengers use India's vast railway network every day.

Reuters/AP

First posted November 20, 2016 14:59:25

Source : abc[dot]net[dot]au