Vasco Da Gama-Patna Express derails: In yet another instance of train derailment, three people were killed and 9 persons injured as 13 coaches of Vasco Da Gama-Patna Express on Friday went off the track in Uttar Pradesh’s Banda. (ANI image)

Vasco Da Gama-Patna Express derails: In yet another instance of train derailment, three people were killed and 9 persons injured as 13 coaches of Vasco Da Gama-Patna Express on Friday went off the track in Uttar Pradesh’s Banda, according to reports. The train was travelling from Goa to Patna. UP ADG(law and order) said that prima facie the cause of accident looks like fractured Railway track as per local assessment, the report says. “We have setup helpline numbers, rescue and relief operations are underway,” Indian Railways PRO Anil Saxena said. Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has announced ex-gratia compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to kin of dead in Vasco Da Gama-Patna express derailment, Rs 1 lakh for those with grevious injuries.

The Patna-bound train derailed at 4:18 am, less than 12 hours after a bolero had collided with a passenger train near Lucknow killing four and injuring two. “The injured have been rushed to the hospital and officials have left for the spot. Relief operations are underway,” North Central Railway PRO Amit Malviya said. He further said that soon after the accident, a medical train reached the spot and by 5:20 am, an accident relief train was dispatched for the spot. The divisional railway manager (DRM), Allahabad has already reached the spot while the General Manager, NCR is on his way, he said. While no deaths were confirmed by the railways, reports say multiple fatalities cannot be ruled out.

“Immediate rescue and relief operations started and an inquiry ordered into the derailment of Vasco De Gama-Patna Express at Manikpur, UP. My sincere condolences to the families of the deceased”, Goyal tweeted. The Railway Minister has also ordered an inquiry by the Commissioner Railway Safety and directed Chairman Railway Board Ashwani Lohani, who is in the state, to rush to the site.

Meanwhile, 14 bogies of a coal laden goods train derailed near Jagatsinghpur in Odisha.

Meanwhile, four people were killed and two others injured when a train hit their vehicle at an unmanned level crossing near Amethi yesterday, the police said.

The vehicle, a bolero, carrying a marriage party, was hit by the local train at 0719 HRS at Matha Bhusunda village under Musafirkhana police station, station house officer Ram Raghav Singh said.

All the occupants were in the vehicle and the two injured have been hospitalised, CPRO northern railway Nitin Chowdhary said.

The engine of the train and cattle guard, which suffered damage, was being replaced, he said.

The section has been cleared and no trains have been affected, Chowdhary said.

Watch this shocking video

#BREAKING | Vasco Da Gama Express derails in Chitrakoot, UP; 2 casualties reported; 8 injured pic.twitter.com/Rbkff43Fkt — News18 (@CNNnews18) November 24, 2017

The Divisional Railway Manager and the Additional Divisional Railway Manager are monitoring the situation, he said.