Death Toll Up To 148 In Indore-Patna Exp Train Accident
KANPUR/LUCKNOW/PATNA: As many as 148 people were killed and more than 200 have injured after 14 coaches of the Indore-Patna Express train derailed near Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The derailment happened at 3.10 AM near Pukhrayan, about 100 km from Kanpur. Most of the 500 passengers on board were sleeping and some of the shocked survivors recalled how they got jolted out of their slumber by a violent thud. Railway minister Suresh Prabhu said a high-level commission has been constituted to investigate the causes of the derailment and promised accountability with the “strictest possible action”, and compensation for the affected passengers. "We heard a deafening noise... I am lucky to be alive and safe," a passenger said. The impact was so intense that two sleeper coaches were found 500 metres in the fields near the track. “I woke up suddenly around 3.10am and felt a tremor," a passenger said. Many survivors were moved to a nearby town so they could leave by trains or buses. (Agencies)
