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Tribune News Service
Lucknow, August 23
Barely three days after the Utkal Express accident in Muzaffarnagar killed 22 persons and injured 203 others, over 100 passengers of Delhi-bound 12225 Kaifiyat Express were injured today when it rammed into a dumper and its engine and 12 coaches derailed at Achhalda in Auraiya district. Most injuries occurred in the coach that had overturned, said Principal Secretary Home Arvind Kumar.
While 30 passengers with minor injuries were released after first aid another 48 are admitted in the district hospitals of Auraiya (15) and Etawah (2). Another 31 are being treated at the Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences in Safai. Four of them are reported to be critical.
ADG (Law and Order) Anand Kumar said the train traffic remained completely disrupted on the busy Delhi-Howrah route. “The railway personnel are working on a war footing but they have said the earliest they would be able to restore traffic is tomorrow morning,” said Kumar.
A statement by the North Central Railways said following the accident, the administration had diverted 35 trains, cancelled another six and rescheduled two trains. The accident occurred at 2.40 am near railway gate number 14 in Achhalda between Kanpur and Etawah railway station which shook passengers from their sleep.
Home Secretary Anand Swaroop said an NDRF team along with railways personnel was working to remove the wreckage and restore rail traffic. The Principal Secretary said the rescue work was completed in the morning and all passengers were taken to their destination.
While an inquiry is yet to be ordered, a dumper with earth suddenly appeared on the track causing the accident. Both the loco pilots have also been injured. The dumper which reportedly got stuck on the track causing the accident had not crossed the railway track through the proper gate.
Sources said the contractor in-charge of the doubling work of the track for which the dumper was ferrying construction material was using an unauthorised unmanned crossing.
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