By Mubasshir Mushtaq
NEW DELHI
Twelve people were killed and over 40 injured late Tuesday night when the Krishak Express passenger train collided with another passenger train, the Barauni Express, in the eastern region of India’s biggest state Uttar Pradesh, according to Indian railway officials.
The accident took place at 11pm local time near Gorakpur town, 270 km east of Lucknow city, the state capital. According to railway officials, the Krishak Express which was traveling from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s constituency of Varanasi to Gorakpur town, rammed into the Barauni Express from behind, derailing three train coaches.
The injured were immediately rushed to a local hospital in Gorakpur town. The rescue operation team and railway officials worked overnight to clear the mangled coaches from the railway track.
At least seven trains were diverted as the Varanasi-Gorakpur train track was closed. Railway spokesperson Anil Saxena told reporters that the driver of the Krishak train has been suspended for “overshooting the signal.”
The speeding Krishak Express train reportedly jumped a signal before hitting the Barauni Express from behind although the exact cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained as an official probe is underway.
Modi expressed his condolences and sanctioned a compensation of $3,300 each to the next of kin of the deceased and $825 each for those grievously injured.
Indian Railways also announced a monetary package of $825 to families of those killed and $412 to those seriously injured in the accident.
Tuesday’s incident is the fourth train accident since May 2014 in which a total of 87 people have been killed.
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