MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Utkal Express running between the Indian cities of Haridwar and Puri derailed at 05:50 p.m. local time (12:20 GMT), The Economic Times newspaper reported, citing spokesperson for Indian Railways Anil Saxena.
shocking visuals coming from Muzaffarnagar in UP, @sureshpprabhu has ordered inuiry into the rail accident #Utkalexpress pic.twitter.com/m0xFxFws7L
— Anand Singh (@Anand_IANS) 19 августа 2017 г.
LIVE: मुजफ्फरनगर के खतौली के पास कलिंग-उत्कल एक्सप्रेस दुर्घटनाग्रस्तः 5 लोगों की मौत, 34 घायल#Muzaffarnagarhttps://t.co/mdFcxl72vi pic.twitter.com/IoYV7DAsR8
— ABP न्यूज़ हिंदी (@abpnewshindi) 19 августа 2017 г.
The reasons behind the accident are unclear yet.
Rails cut, tracks damaged. It's NOT an accident. #Muzaffarnagar #UtkalExprees
— Pratik Prasenjit (@pratikprasenjit) 19 августа 2017 г.
h/t @hindureporter pic.twitter.com/j8SmJ0yyL1
Moreover, Indian Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Saturday announced compensation for the victims of the deadly train derailment in the north of the country which claimed lives of between 10 and 20 people, according to various reports.
"Ex gratia of Rs.3.5 Lakh [$5,460] for those who lost their lives,Rs.50 thousand [$780] for those seriously injured. And Rs.25 thousand [$390] for people with minor injuries in the unfortunate accident has being announced," Prabhu said on Twitter.
Ex gratia of Rs.3.5 Lakh for those who lost their lives,Rs.50 thousand for seriously injured 1/
— Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) 19 августа 2017 г.
And Rs.25 thousand for people with minor injuries in the unfortunate accident has being announced 2/
— Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) 19 августа 2017 г.
According to the statement issued by the Northern Railway, Prabhu is personally monitoring the situation. Special buses have been arranged to carry away stranded passengers from the incident site.
The rescue operation is underway.
Visuals from the derailment site of thre Puri-Haridwar Kalinga-Utkal Express near Muzaffarnagar in UP pic.twitter.com/ZApqLa9tuW
— Sujit Bisoyi (@SujitBisoyiTOI) 19 августа 2017 г.
