At least 23 dead, over 80 injured after train derails in N India

(Photo/Xinhua)

At least 23 people were killed and more than 80 others injured after a passenger train derailed in northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday evening, local police said.

According to Indian railways spokesperson, the accident occurred when a train was crossing the Khatauli station yard at a speed of 105 kph and 14 coaches went off the tracks suddenly in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh, 100 kilometers away from New Delhi, India's national capital.

The train had been traveling to the Hindu holy city of Haridwar, in the foothills of the Himalayas, from Puri, in eastern Odisha state.

"We are struggling to pull out the injured and are waiting for gas cutters to arrive," said police officer Ajay Pandey at the scene, adding, "It's too dark to launch a full rescue operation but our teams are trying their best."

Officials said the injured were being admitted at Khatauli, Meerut and Muzaffarnagar hospitals. 

Authorities have rushed police and disaster response force personnel to the spot to carry out rescue work. The rescuers were seen using gas cutters to cut the steel and help the people trapped inside the coaches, and a crane has also been brought to the spot to lift the derailed coaches.

The incident happened around 5:45 p.m. local time and local railway ministry officials said the cause of the accident was not immediately known. An investigation into the cause of the derailment is underway. 

"I have ordered inquiry into the unfortunate accident to ascertain the cause. Strict action will be taken against any lapse," Indian railway minister Suresh Prabu said. "I am personally monitoring the situation."

The Indian government has announced a compensation of 7,792 US dollars for each family that has lost a member in the accident, while the injured will be given an assistance of 1,558 US dollars each.

Meanwhile, Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have expressed grief over the accident. 

"Extremely pained by the derailment of the Utkal Express in Muzaffarnagar. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased," Modi said and wished a speedy recovery for injured in the accident.

In January this year, 39 people were killed and over 50 injured in train derailment in southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

The Indian government in 2015 announced an investment of over 137 billion US dollars over a period of five years to boost railways and modernize it on new lines.

Indian sprawling railways are the world's third largest network, ferrying around 23 million people each day. Last year, a train accident in Uttar Pradesh killed 145 and injured around 200.