1. Rescue operations near Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, have been completed following the derailment of eight coaches of the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express.
2. A special train carrying 600 passengers has departed for Assam.
3. The derailment resulted in at least four deaths and injuries to over 30 passengers.
Dibrugarh, July 19: Rescue operations at the site near Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, where eight coaches of the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express derailed, have been completed. A special train carrying 600 passengers has departed for Assam.
The derailment, which occurred between Motiganj and Jhilahi railway stations on Thursday, resulted in the deaths of at least four passengers and injuries to over 30 others.
Immediately after the derailment, ambulances and medical teams were dispatched to the scene, despite bad weather temporarily hindering rescue efforts.
The train driver reported hearing a “sound of a blast” before the derailment, according to an official.
The deceased have been identified as Saroj Kumar Singh (31) from Araria, Bihar, and Rahul (38) from Chandigarh, with two victims remaining unidentified.
Also Read: Himanta Biswa Sarma Government to Repeal Assam’s Muslim Marriages Act
Key Points on Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express Derailment:
- A special train carrying 600 passengers of the derailed Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express has left for Assam from Mankapur, Uttar Pradesh.
- The government announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the deceased, Rs 2.5 lakh for those with serious injuries, and Rs 50,000 for those with minor injuries.
- The Railways Ministry has launched a high-level probe into the incident, including verifying the driver’s claim of a minor explosion before the derailment. A commissioner of railway safety will also investigate the matter.
- The Congress has called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to take responsibility for the “significant lapses” and urged the rapid installation of the Kavach anti-collision system on all railway routes.
- Passengers evacuated through emergency windows and doors, with those in AC coaches breaking window panes to rescue the injured. They had to navigate knee-deep water in fields adjacent to the tracks to reach the nearest road.
