ATLEAST 44 passengers were injured, around 30 critically, as 15 coaches of Sealdah-Ajmer Express train derailed in Kanpur Dehat district of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday. This is the second train accident in Uttar Pradesh within two months. In November, Indore-Patna Express had derailed at Pukhrayan in Kanpur Dehat district of Uttar Pradesh, killing 120 people and injuring 180 others.
The incident took place around 5.40 AM between Rura and Metha railway stations, about 50km from Kanpur. There was dense fog in the area when the train went off track just as it was crossing a bridge over a dry canal. Two coaches toppled off the bridge and fell into the canal.
ADG PRO Railway Anil Saxena said that 15 coaches of the train number Train No. 12987- 12988 have been derailed, starting from coach number 6 to 20.
The Uttar Pradesh government has announced a compensation of Rs 50,000 to seriously injured and Rs 25,000 to those with minor injuries.