The death toll following the derailment of Kalka Mail has gone up to 34. About 150 passengers have been injured in the mishap which occurred yesterday. The Delhi Bound Kalka Mail derailed at Malwan station in Fatehpur District of Uttar Pradesh.The North-Central Railway spokesperson said among 34 victims, only four have been identified so far. He said 48 injured passengers have been admitted in hospitals. Relief and rescue operations are in full swing but rail traffic is still disrupted.Army and Air Force have also been pressed into service. According to Air force spokesperson seven aircrafts have joined the relief and rescue work.About 60 trains have been diverted and 28 cancelled so far.Fifteen coaches were derailed and ten of them were badly damage. The seriously injured passengers have been airlifted to Kanpur hospitals by air force helicopters. A national disaster relief forces are also part of rescue operations. The Railway authorities are still not clear about the exact reason of the accident.The Rail Safety Commissioner (Eastern Circle) has been asked to probe into the accident. The Railway has already announced compensation of five lakh rupees for the family of victims of this accident while one lakh rupees will be given to seriously injured and 25 thousand to those who got minor injuries. The Uttar Pradesh Government has also announced one lakh rupees financial asstance for the dependents of victims and 50 thousand for seriously injured and 25 thousand for those having minor injuries.The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Mrs. Sonia Gandhi have expressed deep shock and sorrow at the loss of lives in the train mishap. According to the Railway officials in Chandigarh, 98 passengers belong to Chandigarh and Kalka in the Kalka Mail train mishap. No information has yet reached Chandigarh about the passengers. A helpline has been set-up at Chandigarh Railway Station with two telephone numbers: 0172-2639785 and 0172-2658924.
News On AIR | July 11, 2011 9:00 AM
Kalka Mail derailment: Death toll rises to 34, rescue operations in full swing