On Thursday afternoon, tragedy struck when the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express derailed in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda district. The incident resulted in the deaths of two people, with several others sustaining injuries. At least 10 train coaches went off the tracks, causing significant disruption and panic among the passengers.
Following the derailment, teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) swiftly arrived at the scene to commence rescue operations. The derailment occurred around 2:35 PM, according to railway officials, and involved train number 15904, which was traveling from Chandigarh to Dibrugarh in Assam.
Visuals from the site revealed a chaotic scene with several air-conditioned coaches overturned. Passengers were seen retrieving their belongings from the derailed coaches, highlighting the severity of the accident.
#BreakingNews | Half a dozen coaches of #DibrugarhExpress 15904 derailed between Motiganj Jhilahi railway station in #Gonda district.
2 people have lost their lives and 2 dozen are injured.#TrainAccident #डिब्रूगढ़_एक्सप्रेस #UttarPradesh #YogiAdityanath pic.twitter.com/FlleVQhOfG
— Ritam English (@EnglishRitam) July 18, 2024
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath responded promptly to the accident, instructing officials to reach the site immediately and expedite relief efforts. He also emphasized the importance of providing proper medical care to the injured, as confirmed by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).
Pankaj Singh, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of North Eastern Railway, stated that a medical van from the Railways had arrived at the spot, and rescue operations had commenced. He noted that the derailment happened around 2:37 PM and initially affected 4-5 coaches. Helpline numbers were issued by Indian Railways to assist those affected by the derailment.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was briefed about the accident and is closely monitoring the situation. His involvement underscores the inter-state significance of the incident, given that the train’s destination was in Assam.
The immediate actions taken by rescue teams and government officials are crucial in mitigating the impact of such accidents. Further investigations will likely follow to determine the cause of the derailment and prevent future occurrences.
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