Four persons were killed and 15 others injured in the derailment of coaches of the Howrah-Dehradun Doon, Roy told reporters here.
Relief and rescue operations have been taken up in full swing at the accident site, he said.
He said that the divisional railway manager has rushed to the spot with senior railway officials and a relief train.
Describing the accident as very unfortunate, the railway minister said "Precious lives have been lost. The Railways will take serious steps to ascertain how it occurred."
Asked if it was a case of sabotage, the Railway minister said that a high-level probe has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the derailment which occurred during a countrywide bandh.
To a question, Roy said if the families of deceased passengers approached the Railways for a job, it would be considered.
The Railway minister said he would shortly leave for the accident spot.
Helplines have been opened at Howrah, Hajipur, Dhanbad, Mughalsarai, Bandel, Faizabad, Varanasi and and other stations.
