 "120 killed in UP train derailment")
At least 120 people were killed and more than 200 injured on Sunday when 14 coaches of the Indore-Patna Express derailed near Pukhrayan area in Kanpur Dehat district, Uttar Pradesh, with railways officials saying the number of casualties could rise.
The incident took place around 3 am near Pukhrayan, about 65 km from Kanpur. Several states have rushed officials to help with the rescue operations and also promised ex-gratia payments to those affected.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh for the relatives of those killed and Rs 50,000 for those seriously injured in the mishap from the national relief fund.
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has ordered a probe into the train tragedy and announced ex-gratia for the families of the victims. The minister announced Rs 3.5 lakh ex-gratia for the families of those killed and Rs 50,000 for those grievously injured.
Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha said the government would bear the cost of treatment of the injured, and they will be provided with the best facilities. Sinha also said two trains, one to Indore and one to Patna, would take passengers to their destination.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said the state would give Rs 5 lakh each for the families of those killed, Rs 50,000 for those seriously injured and Rs 25,000 for those with simple injuries.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh to the relatives of those who died in the derailment of the Indore-Patna Express and Rs 50,000 to the injured passengers from the state. The state would also bear the medical expenses of the injured from Madhya Pradesh, he said.
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Two rescue teams, one from Datia and one from Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh, have reached the accident site. Senior Bihar government officials have also rushed to the accident site in a special plane to monitor rescue work. The National Disaster Response Force deployed nearly 200 personnel in Kanpur for search and rescue operations.
Sources said the reason for the accident could be rail fracture. Casualties also increased due to the absence of modern coaches, the sources added. Had there been stainless steel Linke Holfmann Bush coaches, the damage could have been less as these coaches have more safety features that can absorb shock and impact of derailment more effectively and do not topple, they added.