According to sources, the loco pilot of the 23-coach express train heard a blast before the crash, stated a senior official without additional elaboration.

 

The death toll from the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express disaster in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda has risen to four, with 31 people injured, an official said on Friday.

On Thursday afternoon, eight coaches of the train derailed between Motiganj and Jhilahi railway stations, roughly 150 kilometres from the state capital, on the Northeast Railway’s Gonda-Gorakhpur line.

According to the railway authorities, 21 coaches of the train derailed, with eight coaches, including five AC, one pantry, and one general, leaving the track while the remainder stayed on it.

According to sources, the loco pilot of the 23-coach express train heard a blast before the crash, stated a senior official without additional elaboration.

One of the two casualties died on the scene, while the other died from injuries while being transported to Lucknow from the Gonda district hospital.

Saroj Kumar Singh, 30, of Araria (Bihar), and Rahul, 38, of Chandigarh, died on their journey to Lucknow.

Initially, UP Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who had raced to the scene of the accident, told reporters that four people had perished, but two were later revived.

“Train number 15904 Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express, which left Chandigarh on Wednesday night, derailed near Gonda Junction station between Motiganj and Jhilahi railway stations around 2:37 pm on Thursday under the jurisdiction of Northeastern Railway (NER),” said Sabyasachi De, Chief Public Relations Officer, Northeast Frontier Railway.

Gonda District Magistrate Neha Sharma, who arrived on the scene, verified the derailment of eight coaches of the train, adding that the injured were rescued and taken to the hospital. “The relief operations are on at the site with SDRF and NDRF teams carrying out the rescue work,” she informed the audience.

Senior railway and municipal administration officials were present at the accident site to oversee rescue operations and restore rail service to the track. Initially, inclement weather impeded the rescue effort, but the police team and State Disaster Response Force finished it in a matter of hours.

According to UP relief commissioner GS Naveen Kumar, a 40-member medical team and 15 ambulances were already on the scene, with more being rushed there. Of the 34 injured passengers, 25 were admitted to Mankapur CHC, five to Qazidevar CHC, three to Gonda District Hospital, and the remaining two to Lucknow. One of the two being carried to Lucknow died from his injuries on the route.

Taking note of the situation, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath instructed the local authority to aid the injured passengers. The chief minister requested that officials give proper medical treatment for the people harmed in the disaster.

Because the fast train was destined for Dibrugarh, a special train from Gorakhpur was scheduled to transport the passengers there.

 

According to railway authorities, a high-level investigation into the incident has been ordered in addition to a review by the railway commissioner of safety. The railway ministry has declared ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the next kin of the deceased, Rs 2.5 lakh to critically injured passengers, and Rs 50,000 to those who had lesser injuries.

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanata Biswa Sarma’s office stated that he was actively monitoring the situation. According to X, “HCM Dr. Himanta Biswa has been told about the derailment of the Dibrugarh-Chandigarh Express in Uttar Pradesh. HCM is monitoring the situation, and the Assam Government is in contact with the appropriate authorities.”