At least five passengers were feared dead and 34 injured after six coaches of Kalinga-Utkal Express train derailed near Muzaffarnagar in western Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. (LIVE UPDATES)
Officials said that six coaches of Utkal Express, travelling from Puri in Odisha towards Hardwar in Uttarakhand, jumped the tracks near Jagatpur colony of Khataulli – 40 kms from Meerut town – at 5:45 pm.
Officials said that a team of railway officials and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were rushed to the spot from Meerut and Muzaffarnagar for rescue operations. Additional director general of police (Meerut), Prashant Kumar is also on his way to the accident site, they said.
“We have received reports casualties in the accident. The exact number is not known yet. The rescue teams have rushed to the spot.,” said a railway official.
Authorities say several are feared trapped in the debris, and the death toll could rise.
Train traffic on the route has been affected and will be resumed only after clearing the tracks, officials said.
On March 30, six people were injured after eight coaches of the Mahakoshal Express, derailed in Kulpahar Mahoba district of Uttar Pradesh.
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