PTI Muzaffarnagar: Coaches of the Puri-Haridwar Utkal Express after it derailed in Khatauli near Muzaffarnagar on Saturday. PTI Photo(PTI8_19_2017_000099B)

New Delhi: Six coaches of Puri-Haridwar-Kalinga Utkal Express have been derailed in Muzaffarnagar's Khatauli area in Uttar Pradesh today, leading to scores of injured passengers. The incident took place around 6:00 pm in the evening.

At least four people are dead, PTI reported, quoting Railway spokesperson Anil Saxena. Around 15-20 are injured as of latest updates and operations are on to rescue the stranded passengers.

"We don't know the exact figures at the moment, but as per the local people present over there, we have got the information that around 15-20 people have been injured," Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of the Northern Railways, Neeraj Sharma told ANI. "We are arranging passenger trains and buses for ones willing to travel further," he added.

Sharma said that right now the priority of the Indian Railway is to provide relief to the injured.

"Muzaffarnagar's District Magistrate is reaching the site soon. Additional Director-General of Meerut has also left for the accident site. Railway offices have reached the spot. Senior officers of Indian Railways are also rushing to the spot from Delhi. The injured are being shifted to nearby hospital," he said.

He said that rescue operations have been started and the locals of the area are helping a lot.

"As soon as the train crossed the Khatauli railway station, six to seven coaches of the train derailed. The first seven coaches of the train next to engine are fine, these coaches came after that," he said.

Anil Saxena, Director-General and Public Relations Officer of the Indian Railway said that train derailed near the advanced signal station ahead of the Khatauli railway station.

"As per the initial information, this incident took place at around 5.50 PM in the evening. This incident took place at the Northern Railway Delhi division," Saxena told ANI. "We have not yet received proper information in this matter. We are focusing on relief and rescue operations," he added.

Meanwhile, nine Uttar Pradesh Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) companies, a team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) have been rushed to the spot. Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has assured he is personally monitoring the situation and has ordered enquiry into it.

Prabhu took to Twitter to say, "Have ordered inquiry into the unfortunate accident to ascertain the cause. Strict action will be taken against any lapse."

He also said that he was the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, state government officials and the district administration to coordinate rescue and relief operations.

CM Adityanath also took to Twitter to express his grief over the incident and said that the victims will be given proper treatment and that orders have been given for rescue and relief operations.

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav also share his condolences with the families of the victims on Twitter.

(With inputs from ANI and PTI.)

This is a developing story and will be updated with more details.