20 coaches of Train number 19168, the Sabarmati Express, derailed early Saturday morning in a section between Kanpur and Bhimsen station in Uttar Pradesh. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported. Indian Railways has sent buses to the area to help transfer passengers to Kanpur. Initial reports from the driver suggest that a boulder may have hit the engine, causing serious damage to the engine's cattle guard. The Indian Railways is now investigating the incident.
"The Railways are arranging for a bus to transport passengers to another station, from where they will be sent onward by a special train," said a police officer.
According to the Railways, seven trains have been cancelled and three diverted due to the derailment. Shashi Kant Tripathi, Chief Public Relation Officer (CPRO) of the North Central Railway Zone, under which the accident site falls, said that buses were arranged to carry passengers from the accident site to the Kanpur Railway Station. "Besides, an eight coaches MEMU train departed from Kanpur to the accident site to carry passengers back to Kanpur so that further arrangements can be made to send them to their respective destinations," Tripathi said.
The Railways has issued the following helpline numbers:- Prayagraj: 0532-2408128, 0532-2407353, Kanpur: 0512-2323018, 0512-2323015, Mirzapur: 054422200097, Etawah: 7525001249, Tundla: 7392959702, Ahmedabad: 07922113977, Banaras City: 8303994411, Gorakhpur: 0551-2208088.
Besides, the following helpine numbers for Jhansi Rail Division have been released -: Virangana Lakshmibai Jhansi Jn) -0510-2440787 and 0510-2440790. Orai -05162-252206, Banda-05192-227543, Lalitpur Jn – 07897992404
Emergency helpline numbers have been issued for the concerned stations:
- PRYJ: 0532-2408128, 0532-2407353, 0532-2408149 CNB: 0512-2323018, 0512-2323016, 0512-2323015
- MZP: 0544-2220097
- FTP: 7392964622
- NYN: 0532-2697252
- CAR: 8840377893
- ETW: 7525001249
- HRS/ASM: 7525001336
- PHD: 7505720185