At least 23 killed as train derails in India

International Desk: At least 23 people were killed and dozens injured as 14 of the 23 coaches of the Puri-Haridwar Kalinga Utkal Express derailed in Khatauli near Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh of India on Saturday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was extremely pained by the derailment, while railways minister Suresh Prabhu said an inquiry has been ordered into the accident.

The total number of people injured in the accident that took place around 5.45pm was yet to be ascertained, officials said.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has rushed two ministers to the accident spot.

Railways spokesperson Anil Saxena said he could not confirm the number of casualties but said at least five carriages derailed.

Television footage showed several mangled carriages piled up on each other while people looked for wounded in a crowd of people as night descended.

The national authorities have sent rescue teams to help.

"We have mobilised all our resources to provide the best relief and rescue operations at this time," Saxena told TV channels.

Agencies

risingbd/Dhaka/Aug 19, 2017/Amirul