President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed condolences to the grieving kin of the victims who lost their lives in the derailment of the Puri-Haridwar-Kalinga Utkal Express, which took place near Khatauli railway station in Muzaffarnagar.
"Sad at train derailment in UP; my thoughts are with deceased & their families. Injured are being rescued & provided relief #PresidentKovind," President Kovind tweeted.
Talking to his Twitter handle Prime Minister Modi also expressed the pain and asserted that the situation is being closely monitored by the Indian Railway.
"Extremely pained by the derailment of the Utkal Express in Muzaffarnagar. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased," the Prime Minister tweeted.
"I wish those injured a speedy recovery. The situation is being monitored very closely by the Railways Ministry," he added.
He further said that the Indian Railways and Uttar Pradesh Government are working closely to provide relief and rescue operation
"Railways Ministry & UP Government are doing everything possible & providing all assistance required in the wake of the train derailment," he tweeted.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi also took to his Twitter handle to express shock over the incident.
"Shocked to know about the unfortunate accident of Utkal Express in Muzaffarnagar. My thoughts with the families who lost their loved ones," Gandhi tweeted.
Here are the updates so far:
- Fourteen coaches of Puri-Haridwar-Kalinga Utkal Express derailed in Muzaffarnagar's Khatauli area
- 10 people have lost their lives till now and over 30 are said to be injured.
- The incident took place around 5:50 pm.
- Indian Railways released emergency helpline number for detail information.
- Nine Uttar Pradesh Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) companies, a team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) have been rushed to the spot.
- Medical vans have also been rushed to the site
- Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said that he has ordered inquiry into the unfortunate accident to ascertain the cause.
- Railway Ministry and Uttar Pradesh Government are working hand in hand, informs Prabhu.
- As per sources repair work was underway at the track.
- MoS Railways Manoj Sinha and BJP leader Sanjeev Balyan are at the site.
- Alternate arrangement is being made for stranded passengers.
-Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced ex gratia of Rs 5 lakhs to the next kin of any Odia passengers killed in the incident. He also announced relief of Rs 50,000 for injured.
- Union Minister of Railway Suresh Prabhu announced ex gratia of Rs 3.5 lakh for the next kin, Rs. 50, 000 for those seriously injured and Rs. 25, 000 for people with minor injuries.
- Former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh Mulayam Singh Yadav and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh expressed condolences to the grieving kin of the victim.
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