Six coaches of 2506 Delhi-Kamakhya North EastExpress derailed in Bihar’s Buxar district at around 10 pm on Wednesday night. There was, however, no immediate word on the number of casualties from authorities, PTI reported. The train had departed from Delhi’s Anand Vihar terminal in the morning at 7:40 am for Kamakhya, which is around 6 km away from Guwahati .
Relief operations begin
As per Indian Railways, relief measures have been initiated by the authorities soon after the incident. Doctors and ambulances have also been rushed to the spot.
Authorities have also dispatched a scratch train from Patna to bring back passengers from the site. Speaking to PTI, Deepak Kumar, Inspector, Railway Police Force, informed that while medical teams have been sent to the accident site, local hospitals in Buxar town have also been alerted by the state administration.
NDRF, SDRF teams at the site
Speaking about the accident, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that while the rescue operations are going on at war footing basis, the NDRF, SDRF, District administration, Railway officials, and local residents are working together as a team at the site.
Issuing a statement, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav said that the departments of disaster management and health have been asked to take immediate steps for quickest relief to affected passengers.
“I have also spoken to the district magistrates of Buxar and Bhojpur with instructions to reach the site at the earliest and speed up relief work,” he added, as per the agency.
According to Birendra Kumar , Chief Public Relations officer of the East Central Railway, even as initial reports do not suggest any casualties, some passengers might have sustained minor injuries.
“We have sent rescue and medical teams to the spot. The railways has also issued emergency helpline numbers for passengers. These are 9771449971 (Patna), 8905697493 (Danapur), 8306182542 (Ara), 8306182542 and 7759070004,” he was quoted as saying by PTI.
Authorities have also set up a war room to monitor the situation. As many as 18 trains, which include Rajdhani Express from Delhi to Dibrugarh have also been diverted.