New Delhi: At least four people died and several others were injured after the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express derailed near Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda on Thursday.
The train derailment comes nearly a month after the Kanchanjunga Express met with a collision on June 7, leaving nine dead and more than 25 injured.
“The train accident in Gonda district is extremely sad. District administration officials have been directed to carry out relief and rescue operations on a war footing and to take the injured to the hospital on top priority and provide them proper treatment,” Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
The train is said to have gone off track around 2:35 pm according to the Railway officials. The reason behind the derailment is not yet known.
“Taking cognisance of the train accident in Gonda district has directed the district administration officials to reach the spot and speed up the relief work,” the Uttar Pradesh chief minister’s Office said.
While there is no official information on how many coaches of the train were affected, media reports indicate that between 6-12 coaches overturned. According to NDTV, four coaches of the AC compartment derailed a few kilometres before the Jhulahi railway station.
A 40-member medical team and 15 ambulances have been sent to the site for relief operations, NDTV reported.
Visuals surfacing on social media after the accident show passengers standing on the sides of the track with their luggage while others can be seen fishing out their belongings from the wreckage.
The train was heading to Dibrugarh in Assam from Chandigarh.
This is a developing story.