With derailment of the Indore-Patna express claiming over 100 lives, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said that the government has sent Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha to the spot and added that the NDRF teams have been directed to help in the rescue operations.
"I spoke to Union Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu and with immediate effect we have sent Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha to the spot. In the morning, I have spoken to DG NDRF and instructed him to rush NDRF teams from Varanasi, Ghaziabad and Delhi to the spot and he is also leaving for Pukhrayan to oversee the rescue operations," he said.
"It is a big accident and very unfortunate as well. I pay my condolences for the victims," he added.
At least 153 people sustained injuries after 14 coaches of Indore Patna Express derailed near Pukhrayan in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, at 3.20 a.m. today.
President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have also offered their condolences to the bereaved kin of the victims.
The Railways have released helpline numbers for the people- Ujjain - 07342560906, Ratlam - 074121072, Orai - 051621072, Jhansi - 05101072, Pukhrayan - 05113270239, Varanasi - 05422503814.
A help desk has been set up at the Patna railway station to assist the family members of those onboard.
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