By IANS
Kanpur/New Delhi : At least a dozen people were injured Tuesday when the Howrah-bound Jodhpur-Howrah Express derailed at Juhi, near the Kanpur railway station. No one had died, according to officials.
Northern Railway Chief Area Manager R.S. Meena told IANS there were no deaths and the injured were taken to the railway and civil hospitals in Kanpur.
He dismissed as “false and erroneous” television reports claiming that three passengers had died because of the 12.23 p.m. collision.
“About a dozen injured persons have been rushed to a local hospital but no one is in serious condition,” he stressed.
However, a railway ministry statement said 10 people were injured.
The coaches involved in the derailment included an ordinary second-class compartment and a front passenger-cum-luggage cubicle. An accident relief train along with a railway medical team has reached the accident spot.
While rescue operations were underway, Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal visited the accident site and met the victims in the two hospitals.
The accident caused severe damage to the engine and three bogies that were derailed.
Emergency helpline numbers have been set up for the convenience of the public. The helpline numbers are 0512-1072 (Kanpur) 033-26413660 (Howrah) 0141-2201043 (Jaipur) 0141-2202915 (Jaipur) 0291-2431646 (Jodhpur) 0151-2526869 (Bikaner) and 0151-2227670 (Bikaner)