UP: 10 killed, 39 injured in three train accidents

Ten people were killed and 39 injured, 15 of them seriously, in three accidents involving five passenger trains in Uttar Pradesh amid dense fog and near zero visibility conditions early on Saturday.

Among those killed when the Bhiwani-Gorakhpur Gorakhdham Express hit the stationary Prayagraj Express at Panki railway station in Kanpur district were seven men and three women, General Manager, North Central Railway, Allahabad zone, Harishchandra Joshi said.

The accident took place when the two trains coming from Delhi were on the same track, he said. Though fog appeared to be the reason behind the mishap, an inquiry has been ordered to go into the exact reason behind the accident.

Commissioner, railway safety, will start the inquiry in the accident on Monday.

Railways have announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the family of those killed, Rs 1lakh to those seriously injured and Rs 10,000 for those with minor injuries.

The Delhi-Allahabad Prayagraj Express was at the station when the Gorakhdham Express hit it from behind in dense fog, Public Relations Officer of North Central Railway (Allahabad) Amit Malviya said.

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Murli Manohar Joshi, who was travelling to Allahabad on the Prayagraj Express, was unhurt.

Congress Member of Parliament from Bahraich Kamal Kishore and his wife Poonam Kishore were travelling in the Gorakhdham Express.

The guard of Prayagraj Express was killed in the accident, a railway official said. The ladies unreserved coach next to the guard's compartment was severely damaged in the collision leading to two bogies climbing over each other.

In another accident, the Bihar-bound Delhi-Sitamarhi Licchavi Express rammed into the stationary Magadh Express at Sarai Bhopat near Etawah at around 8 am, railway officials said.

The driver of the Licchavi Express was seriously injured as the engine of the train ploughed into the Magadh Express in foggy conditions.

While the brake van of the Prayagraj Express derailed, the engine of the Gorakhdham Express was damaged.

In Pratapgarh, 61 km from Allahabad, the Sarayu Express rammed into a tractor trolley at an unmanned railway crossing. While there were no reports of any casualty, the engine of the train was damaged in the accident.

The injured were admitted to Hallot, Raja Ram and BLC hospitals in Kanpur.

Rail traffic on the Delhi-Kanpur section has been severely disrupted due to the accidents.