Mahakaushal Express accident: 22 injured; UP CM Yogi Adityanath directs Siddharth Nath Singh to oversee rescue operations

Pic courtsey: ANI

Jhansi: At least 22 passengers were injured after eight coaches of the Mahakaushal Express, which runs between Jabalpur and Hazrat Nizamuddin, derailed in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday morning.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed state Health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh to visit the accident site and oversee rescue and relief operations.

The train derailed between Laadpur and Supa near Kulpahar station in Mahoba at 2:07 am. 

An official of the North Central Railways told IANS that an inquiry has been ordered.

The coaches that derailed included four air-conditioned coaches, one sleeper, two general and one SLR (Seating cum Luggage Rake) coach, the official added.

All injured were rushed to hospitals and 19 of them were discharged later. The injured included many women and children. The condition of at least four of them is said to be critical. 

The cause of the derailment is yet to be ascertained.

Following the accident, General Manager of North Central Railways and other senior railway officials rushed to the spot.

The train with the rest of the coaches and passengers left from the accident site at 6.45 am, the official added.

The incident led to the diversion of a few trains between Allahabad and Jhansi.

Earlier in 2017, 41 passengers died and over 60 were injured after nine coaches of the Hirakhand Express derailed in Andhra Pradesh's Vizianagaram district.

In November 2016, at least 150 people died and over 300 were injured after 14 coaches of the Patna-Indore Express derailed near Kanpur on November 20.

(With Agency inputs)