'Loud Explosion Before Derailment:' Dibrugarh Express' Loco Pilot Makes Big Claim; Railways to Probe

New Delhi: In a big claim, Tribhuvan, one of the loco pilots of the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express on Thursday said he heard a loud explosion before multiple coaches derailed in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda on Thursday evening. So far three deaths have been reported and 20 are said to have been injured. As per sources, the Railways is examining the possibility of sabotage. 

Several Coaches Derailed

Gonda District Magistrate Neha Sharma, who reached the spot, said eight coaches of the train got derailed, adding that the injured are being rushed to hospital and relief operations are on at the site.

40-Member Medical Team With 15 Ambulances on Spot

A 40-member medical team and 15 ambulances are at the spot and more medical teams and ambulances are being rushed there, Relief Commissioner Kumar said. Senior railway and local administration officials are at the spot, about 150 km from Lucknow, to oversee rescue operations.

Dy CM Says Current Priority To Save Lives

Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said that currently, their priority is to save the lives of the injured and give them the best treatment. 

Senior officials of the Health Department are on the spot and an adequate number of ambulances have been rushed to carry the injured, he said. 

“Train number 15904 Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express that left Wednesday night from Chandigarh derailed near Gonda Junction station between Motiganj and Jhilahi railway stations at around 2:37 pm on Thursday under the jurisdiction of North Eastern Railway (NER),” Sabyasachi De, Chief Public Relations Officer, Northeast Frontier Railway, said.

CM Yogi Directs Officials To Ensure Proper Treatment of Injured

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took cognisance of the incident and directed the local administration to assist the affected passengers. The chief minister has asked the officials to ensure proper medical treatment of the passengers injured in the accident.

TMC MPs Blame Railway Minister For Accident

The Trinamool Congress has blamed Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for the derailment of the train. While the party's Rajya Sabha MP and National Spokesperson Sushmita Dev said the railways, which serve as the primary mode of travel for millions, are no longer safe, TMC Krishnanagar MP Mahua Moitra commented that the railways appeared to have entered an 'emergency room' phase after 10 years of the Narendra Modi government.

"Another train derailment. This time the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express! Indian Railways, which is the primary mode of travel for crores of common people is no more safe!", Dev posted on X.

Offering her condolences to the bereaved families and expressing solidarity with the injured, Dev said, "Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the blue-eyed boy of @PMOIndia, is costing us lives!" Echoing Dev, Moitra said, "Another derailment in UP. Shame @AshwiniVaishnaw - Indian Railways in Emergency room after 10 years of Jumla Sarkar." Moitra emphasised the urgent need for safety measures, advocating for the immediate installation of the automated train collision avoidance system (KAVACH) across all railway routes.

Helpline Numbers Issued

According to the relief commissioner's office, the helpline numbers- Gonda: 8957400965, Lucknow: 8957409292 have been started.

The Indian Railways has started the relief operation and medical vans have reached the accident site. The Railway Board has issued the following helpline numbers - Commercial Control: 9957555984, Furkating (FKG): 9957555966, Mariani (MXN): 6001882410, Simalguri (SLGR): 8789543798, Tinsukia (NTSK): 9957555959, Dibrugarh (DBRG): 9957555960. 

(with PTI inputs)