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Several coaches of the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh express train derailed in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda, leaving at least four passengers dead and 10 injured on Thursday.
The incident took place near Jhilahi station between Gonda and Basti at 2.35 pm, officials said, while the train was headed to Assam’s Dibrugarh from Chandigarh. The cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained.
Medical teams are on the spot while railway authorities tweeted out helpline numbers.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s office tweeted that he is monitoring the situation and his government in touch with “relevant authorities”. UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, meanwhile, said district authorities had been instructed to carry out relief work on a war-footing.
‼️HCM Dr @himantabiswa has been briefed about the derailment of Dibrugarh - Chandigarh express in Uttar Pradesh.
— Chief Minister Assam (@CMOfficeAssam) July 18, 2024
HCM is monitoring the situation and the Government of Assam is in touch with relevant authorities.
जनपद गोण्डा में हुई ट्रेन दुर्घटना अत्यंत दुःखद है।
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) July 18, 2024
जिला प्रशासन के अधिकारियों को युद्ध स्तर पर राहत एवं बचाव कार्य संचालित करने और घायलों को शीर्ष प्राथमिकता के साथ अस्पताल पहुंचाकर उनके समुचित उपचार के लिए निर्देश दिए हैं।
प्रभु श्री राम से घायलों के शीघ्र स्वास्थ्य लाभ हेतु…
In regard with the derailment of 15904 Dibrugarh Express between Motiganj-Jhilahi in Lucknow division of North Eastern Railway, the helpline numbers are issued over Ambala Division. pic.twitter.com/7yasA6QlHm
— DRM Ambala NR (@drm_umb) July 18, 2024
The opposition criticised the centre over the incident, questioning the steps taken to improve rail safety.
Another derailment in UP. Shame @AshwiniVaishnaw - Indian Railways in Emergency room after 10 years of Jumla Sarkar. Kavach anti-collision should be installed immediately on all routes in India. Total cost of only ₹63,000 crores vs ₹1,08,000 crores for Mum Ahmd bullet train.
— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) July 18, 2024
The derailment is the latest in a series of train accidents across the country. Last month, 10 were killed when the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express was hit by a goods train in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district. Editorials in papers had pointed to the need to get the basics right.
Last year, Newslaundry had reported on the Balasore Coromandel train collision in Odisha which left more than 290 dead.
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