Seemanchal Express derailment: Death toll rises to 6, Railways to give ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to kin of each deceased

After a Delhi-bound train derailed on Sunday early morning in Bihar's Vaishali district, about 30 km from Patna, at least six people have been found dead, while 35 others have been grievously injured. 

Railways to give ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of every deceased.

Rs 1 lakh would be given to the grievously injured and Rs 50,000 to those who suffered simple injuries.

Also, all medical expenses will also be born by Railways.

11 coaches of Seemanchal Express derailed near Sahadai Buzurg at around 3:52 am on February 3 in the wee hours of the morning.

Officials said that the superfast train from Jogbani in Bihar to Delhi's Anand Vihar Terminal was running at full speed when the accident took place. 

Three of the coaches overturned and the high force of the impact destroyed them completely.

The main cause of the accident is the said to be the rail fracture of CMS X- ING at the Barauni end of the station yard. 

Rescue operations are underway and helpline numbers have been issued, the Railway Ministry said. 

"Rescue and relief operations are on for derailment of 9 coaches of Jogbani-Anand Vihar Terminal Seemanchal express at Sahadai Buzurg, Bihar," the Twitter handle of Piyush Goyal's office said.

Rescue and relief operations are on for derailment of 9 coaches of Jogbani-Anand Vihar Terminal Seemanchal express at Sahadai Buzurg, Bihar.
Help lines:
Sonpur 06158221645
Hajipur 06224272230
Barauni 06279232222

— Piyush Goyal Office (@PiyushGoyalOffc) February 3, 2019

Apart from Railway Administration and State Administration, NDRF is also assisting Railways in relief and rescue operations. 

Among the nine coaches that derailed are three sleeper coaches - S8, S9, S10, one general coach, one AC coach B3, said East Central Railway spokesperson Rajesh Kumar. 

#SpotVisuals: 9 coaches of #SeemanchalExpress derailed in Bihar's Sahadai Buzurg, earlier this morning. 6 people have lost their lives in the incident. pic.twitter.com/wQgNwiieSD

— ANI (@ANI) February 3, 2019

Prime Minister Narendra Modi too expressed grief over the accident.

He said, "Deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to the derailment of coaches of Seemanchal Express. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly. Railways, NDRF and local authorities are providing all possible assistance in wake of the accident."

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, on the other hand, has directed the administration to provide all kind of assistance.

A team of doctors has been sent from nearby towns of Sonpur and Barauni to the site of the accident.

All passenger trains on this route have been cancelled. Also, Uttar Pradesh trains for Chapra have been diverted via Muzaffarpur (MFP)-Chapra.

Inquiry to be done by CRS Eastern Circle Latif Khan.

Meanwhile, the unaffected 12 coaches of the train are being moved to Hajipur where additional coaches will be attached and the train will move for ANVT.

Railways have made adequate arrangements of food and drinking water at the accident site for all the passengers. 

Arrangements for food, drinking water, and other necessities have been taken care of at Hajipur and Patna as well.