Pukhrayan train derailment

Pukhrayan Train Derailment
Pukhrayan
Location within Uttar Pradesh
Pukhrayan
Location within Uttar Pradesh
Date 20 November 2016
Time 3:10 a.m. local time
(21:40 UTC, 19 November)
Location Pukhrayan, Uttar Pradesh
Coordinates 26°13′50″N 79°50′54″E / 26.23056°N 79.84833°E / 26.23056; 79.84833
Country India
Rail line Indore - Rajendra Nagar Express
Operator Indian Railways Western Zone
Type of incident Derailment
Cause Under investigation
Statistics
Trains 1
Deaths 150
Injuries ≈150
Scheduled train route from Indore to Patna.

On 20 November 2016, the Indore – Rajendra Nagar Express 19321, a scheduled train from Indore to Patna, derailed near Pukhrayan, Kanpur, India, resulting in at least 150 deaths and more than 150 injuries.[1] It is the deadliest train accident in India since 1999, when the Gaisal train disaster claimed 290 lives.

Accident

The Indore – Rajendra Nagar Express travels twice a week between Indore Junction railway station and Rajendra Nagar Terminal in Patna.[2][3] At approximately 03:10 local time on 20 November, the train derailed in the town of Pukhrayan near the city of Kanpur. Fourteen carriages were derailed and early reports had at least 120 people killed and over 260 injured, with the death toll later rising to 150, and injured reduced to 150 people.[1] Although the cause of the derailment remains unclear,[4] sources in the railways suspect the accident to have been caused by rail fracture.[5]

According to officials, most of the casualties were from two severely damaged coaches namely S1 and S2 of sleeper class, and heavy machinery was being used to rescue passengers trapped in the train.[6][7]

Timetable of derailed train (scheduled)[8]
(IST) (UTC+5:30)
Station Arrives Departs Km
Indore Junction - 14:00 0
... ... ... ...
Orai 00:43 00:45 668.5
(Pukhrayan)
Kanpur Central 04:00 04:05 774.9
... ... ... ...
Rajendra Nagar Terminal17:05 - 1361.8

Aftermath

The rescue and operations were carried out by the Indian Army, the National Disaster Response Force, teams of doctors and local police.[6][7] Rail mobile-medical units were also on site. Helpline numbers for those affected by the derailment were issued by Indian Railways.[9]

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he was "Anguished beyond words on the loss of lives due to the derailing of the Indore–Patna Express" and added that his "thoughts are with the bereaved families", in a tweet.[10] The Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu tweeted, "Strictest possible action will be taken against those who could be responsible for accident".[9]

Compensation

As the rescue operation was underway, the Indian Railways, prime minister Narendra Modi and chief ministers across the states of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar announced ex-gratia for the victims of the accident.[11] Earlier on 1 September 2016, the Indian Railways had launched an optional insurance scheme at a low premium.[12]

Authority Kin of the deceased Critically injured Survivors with minor injuries Notes
Narendra Modi (Prime Minister of India) ₹2 lakh (US$2,972) ₹50,000 (US$743) - [11]
Indian Railways ₹3.5 lakh (US$5,201) ₹50,000 (US$743) ₹25,000 (US$372) [11]
Akhilesh Yadav (Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh) ₹5 lakh (US$7,430) ₹50,000 (US$743) ₹25,000 (US$372) [11]
Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh) ₹2 lakh (US$2,972) ₹50,000 (US$743) - [11]
Nitish Kumar (Chief Minister of Bihar) ₹2 lakh (US$2,972) ₹50,000 (US$743) - Compensation announced only for the residents of Bihar.[13]

Investigation

Within hours of the incident, the central government ordered an investigation to probe the cause of the accident. Primary sources hinted at fracture in a section of the railway tracks which might have caused the train to skid off.[14] Other sources speculated the train to have been overcrowded.[15] Some survivors claimed that one of the coaches was making noise and that its wheels were not running smoothly.[16]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Indore-Patna Express derailment: Toll touches 150; deadliest rail mishap since 1999". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  2. ↑ "Almost 100 people killed in India train derailment". Aljazeera.com. 20 November 2016. Archived from the original on 20 November 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  3. ↑ "Timetable 35" (PDF). Indian Railways. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  4. ↑ "Dozens killed as train derails near Kanpur, India". BBC News. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  5. ↑ "Indore-Patna Express train accident: Rail fracture suspected to be cause of derailment". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  6. 1 2 "120 Dead After Indore-Patna Express Derails In Train Accident Near Kanpur Today". NDTV. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Kanpur Train Accident: Rajnath Singh Sends Disaster Response Teams For Rescue Ops". NDTV. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  8. ↑ "19313/Indore - Rajendranagar Express (via Sultanpur)". India Rail Info. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  9. 1 2 "LIVE | Kanpur train tragedy: Death toll rises to 120, rescue operations on". Hindustan Times. 2016-11-20. Retrieved 2016-11-20.
  10. ↑ "PM Narendra Modi Expresses Anguish Over Indore-Patna Express Train Derailment". NDTV. 20 November 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 "Indore-Patna Train Accident: Victims' Kin to Get Rs 14.5 Lakh Compensation". News18. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  12. ↑ "Railways offers Rs 10 lakh insurance cover for train travel". The Economic Times. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  13. ↑ Madan Kumar (20 November 2016). "Kanpur train derailment: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar announces ex-gratia payment for Rs 2 lakh to dead, Rs 50,000 to injured". Patna: The Times of India. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  14. ↑ "Indore Patna Express accident: MoS Railways hints at fractured track for derailment". Indian Express. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  15. ↑ "Indore-Patna Express derailment: Train was carrying more passengers than its capacity". Times of India. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  16. ↑ "Indore-Patna train derailment: FIR lodged against railway staffers". The Times of India. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
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