At least seven people were killed and about 25 others injured after five coaches of a Delhi-bound train derailed in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh early on Wednesday, officials said.
The accident took place in Harchandpur area of Rae Bareli district, located some 77 km (48 miles) south of the state capital Lucknow.
Government Railway Police’s superintendent of police Saumitra Yadav, who was heading to the accident spot, said the casualty numbers were expected to rise, reports hindustantimes.
The train number 14003 was going to New Delhi from Malda town in West Bengal.
Yadav said officials of Rae Bareli’s district administration have already reached the spot and started the rescue operation. He said National Disaster Response Force personnel from Lucknow and Varanasi have also rushed to the spot.
Officials of the Northern Railways (NR) said accident relief trains from Lucknow and Varanasi districts have been already rushed to help detach the derailed bogies and repair the damaged track would start.
They said a portion of railway track was uprooted from its original position after the accident.
Divisional railway manager (DRM) NR Lucknow Satish Kumar said the rescue operation has been started.