2 killed, 26 injured as Sealdah - Ajmer Express (12987) derails near Kanpur

Helpline Nos. for Sealdah - Ajmer Express (12987)

Kanpur: 0512-2323015, 2333016, 2323018

Allahabad: 0532 - 2408149, 2408128, 2407353

Tundla: 05612 - 220337, 220338, 220339

Aligarh: 0571 - 2404056, 2404055

At least two persons were killed and 26 injured after 15 coaches of the Sealdah-Ajmer Express derailed near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh this morning, December 28, 2016. Two of the passengers brought out of the wrecked coaches have died in hospital, confirmed Kanpur police chief Zaki Ahmed. Eight people are believed to be in a critical state. As per the sources, in dense early morning fog at around 5:20 am, the coaches went off track when the train was crossing a bridge over a dry canal close to Rura, nearly 70 km from Kanpur. Two coaches toppled off the bridge and fell into the canal bed.

A passenger said he was woken up by a loud bang. "Our coach tilted to one side. I jumped out and saw a few coaches were derailed," Rizwan Chaudhary told to media. Meanwhile, the Union Railway Minister Mr. Suresh Prabhu tweeted, "Immediate medical help being provided to the injured. Mobilized resources,directed all concerned to ensure rescue and relief." "Thorough investigation will be carried out to ascertain the cause," Mr Prabhu said in another tweet, adding that he was personally monitoring the efforts.

It should be noted that this is a second rail accident in the region in two months. On November 20, nearly 150 passengers were killed in their sleep and nearly 200 injured after the Indore-Patna Express train slid off track near Kanpur.