At Least 2 Passengers Die As Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express Derails In UP

At least two passengers have died and several are injured after several coaches of the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh express train derailed in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda today. However, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak told PTI that four passengers had died. The incident occurred in Pikaura, located between Gonda and Jhilahi in Uttar Pradesh.

A rescue team has been sent to the site for relief operations. Visuals show passengers standing on the sides of the track with their luggage. Train number 15904 was heading to Dibrugarh in Assam from Chandigarh. The loco pilot of the train claimed that he heard a loud explosion just before the collision. The Central Government has ordered a high-level probe into the incident.

A 40-member medical team with 15 ambulances are at the spot and more ambulances are on their way to the accident site.

Out of the 21 coaches, five coaches of the AC compartment derailed a few kilometres before the Jhulahi railway station. Several trains have been impacted on the route and a few have been diverted, Pankaj Singh, CPRO, North Eastern Railways said.

The route of the Katihar-Amritsar Express and Guwahati-Shrimata Vaishnodevi Katra Express has been diverted.

“I had a close shave, glad to be safe. Don’t worry I am fine,” a passenger who was onboard the train said. Videos from the accident site showed people taking out their luggage from the derailed coaches. One of the coaches flipped and turned to its left, with some passengers standing on top of it.