At least two persons were killed and 44 others injured when 15 coaches of the Ajmer-Sealdah express train derailed on Wednesday (December 28) near Rura railway station in Kanpur dehat district of Uttar Pradesh.
The incident took place around 6 am near Rura station, 70 km from Kanpur, when the train was crossing a bridge overhead a dry canal in the area, Northern Central Railways PRO Amit Malviya said.
IG (Kanpur range) Zaki Ahmed said that the accident occurred 13 sleeper and two general coaches of the train, 12987 Ajmer-Sealdah express, derailed.
Rescue and relief operations have been started at the accident spot with the district health department dispatching 14 ambulances and relief teams from Kanpur and Tundla, he said.
Buses have also been plied to drop the stranded passengers from the spot to Kanpur railway station.
The Delhi-Howrah route via Kanpur has been temporarily closed and the Shatabdi express from Delhi to Kanpur has been cancelled.
'A rescue team has rushed to the spot and a medical relief train from Kanpur has also been sent to the accident site. Currently we are focusing on relief and rescue operations,' Railway spokesperson Anil Saxena said.
The Railways have issued the helpline numbers for Kanpur — 0512-2323015, 2323016, 2323018 and for Allahabad — 0532-2408149, 2408128.
