Utkal Express derailment: Rescue operation complete, railway personnel restoring track

At least 23 people were killed and at least 40 injured in a major derailment when 14 coaches of the Kalinga Utkal Express bound for Haridwar in Uttarakhand went off the tracks with one of the coaches mounting on another near Khatauli in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday evening.

While officials have said that the rescue operation is complete, the railway personnel is busy restoring the track. According to officials, it will take at least 24 hours for the entire stretch to be restored hence, it will be difficult for trains to ply on the route.

Union Minister and Muzaffarnagar MP Sanjay Balyan, who reached the spot on Saturday, claimed nearly 60 people were injured. The state police however put the dead at 23 and injured at 40.

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has ordered an inquiry into the derailment. He also announced Rs 3.5 lakh ex-gratia compensation for those who lost their lives, Rs 50,000 for the seriously injured and Rs 25,000 for those who received minor injuries.