Utkal Express derailment: No room for laxity, fix responsibility by today, Rail Min Suresh Prabhu tells CRB

In the wake of the Utkal Express derailment that killed 23 people, Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has ordered the Chairman of the Railway Board (CRB) to fix responsibility by day end based on prima facie evidence.

''Will not allow laxity in operations by the Board. Have directed CRB to fix responsibility on prima facie evidence by end of day,'' Prabhu tweeted.

Will not allow laxity in operations by the Board. Have directed CRB to fix responsibility on prima facie evidence by end of day.

— Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) August 20, 2017

Further updating on the rescue and restoration operations that are underway, the Union Minister informed that 7 derailed coaches have been tackled.

Meanwhile, all the trains on the Meerut line have been cancelled or diverted till 6 pm.

Affected rail route is expected to be cleared and traffic is likely to be restored by 7 pm on Sunday.

According to a statement by the Northern Railway, General Manager RK Kulshrestha is personally monitoring the relief work at site and Additional General Manager, Northern Railway Manju Gupta is observing medical assistance work in the hospital personally.

A total of 97 passengers have been injured and 23 passengers reported dead in this unfortunate accident.

Out of 97 injured persons, 26 passengers are grievously injured while 71 have simple injuries.

Many injured person have discharged after providing first aid assistance. Injured passengers have been admitted in Meerut and Muzaffarnagar Hospitals.