Ram Nath Kovind condoles loss of lives in Utkal Express mishap

In his message, the President has said “I am sad to learn about the derailment of the Puri-Haridwar Kalinga Utkal Express at Khatauli near Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, as a result of which a number of persons lost their lives and others sustained injuries."

"I understand both the State Government and the Railway authorities are providing all possible assistance to the bereaved families as well as the best of medical attention to the injured," he said.

"Please convey my heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. I wish speedy recovery to all the injured persons," Kovind said.

A day after the tragic derailment of thirteen coaches of Puri-Haridwar-Kalinga Utkal Express in Uttar Pradesh claiming 23 lives and injuring over 90, reports surfaced in media on Sunday suggested that human error might have been responsible for the mishap.

The derailment occurred at Khatauli in UP's  Muzaffarnagar area around 5:45 pm on Saturday.

The train, which was headed from Puri in Odisha to Haridwar in Uttarakhand, witnessed the mishap as thirteen of its coaches derailed.

According to reports, two coaches of the Utkal Express crashed into a residential area, ramming a house and a college.

On Saturday evening, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu ordered an inquiry into the train derailment to ascertain its cause.

The state police reportedly informed that the Anti- Terrorist Squad (ATS) will "investigate into the causes of the accident" and look at any aspect of "sabotage".

Jagat Ram, a resident of one of the houses damaged by the ramming of the train, told NDTV that parts of the rail track in that area were undergoing repair works.

Local suspect that the driver of the Utkal Express was unaware of the repair work.

"Two other trains that passed through the area before this train had slowed down. This one did not. It came really fast and rammed into the house," Jagat Ram was quoted as saying by NDTV.

Soon after the train accident occurred on Saturday, NDRF  teams were mobilised for rescue operation.

Since many were trapped inside the train coaches, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel carried out rescue operation with gas cutters.

Six of the thirteen coaches were severely damaged, reports said.

At night, Suresh Prabhu informed that the rescue operation was completed and the injured were shifted to hospitals.

He had also announced compensation of Rs. 3.5 lakh for the family of those killed, Rs. 50,000 for those seriously injured and Rs. 25,000 for people with minor injuries.

State government Odisha and Uttar Pradesh have also announced compensations for the deceased and injured.