Ambulances and medical teams were rushed to the spot between Motiganj and Jhilahi railway stations, about 150 km from the state capital, as news of the derailment came in.
The loco pilot heard the “sound of a blast” before the derailment, an official told reporters. But he did not elaborate.
There was confusion initially over the death toll.
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak told PTI that four people were killed, with district magistrate Neha Sharma, too, giving out the same number to the media. But about five hours after the 2.35 pm accident, the authorities revised the figures with Sharma saying there was one death.
“Prima facie, when teams reached the spot people were lying scattered there in bad shape due to which confusion prevailed,” she said.
One more passenger died later in the evening while being taken to Lucknow for medical treatment, UP Relief Commissioner GS Naveen said. The Railways, too, had reported two deaths.
The dead were identified as Saroj Kumar Singh (31), a resident of Araria in Bihar, and Rahul (38) from Chandigarh.
Thirty of the injured were being treated at two community health centres and three at the district hospital. Apart from Rahul, another passenger was sent to Lucknow.
Bad weather affected the rescue operation for a while, but police and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) completed the task.
Even before the relief teams arrived, passengers in the Assam-bound train had begun coming out of the toppled coaches.
Some of them went back again to pull out their luggage. They then sat near the tracks, waiting as rescuers arrived.
“For a moment the coach was filled with dust and it was all dark. I don't remember what happened in the next few seconds. I only remember the cries and that a passenger pulled my hand, and helped me get out of the window," Sandeep Kumar recalled.
Dileep Singh, who was travelling to Chhapra in Bihar, had climbed on to an upper berth for an afternoon nap when the accident took place at about 2.35 pm. He was thrown on to the berth on the opposite side.
A 40-member medical team and 15 ambulances reached the spot and more medical teams and ambulances were being sent, Relief Commissioner Kumar said during the initial stage of the relief operation.
“Train number 15904 Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express that left on 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, a spokesperson said.
Union minister and local MP Kirti Vardhan Singh visited the accident spot.
“Since this train was going to Dibrugarh from Chandigarh, a special train has left from Gorakhpur to carry the passengers to their destination. The train will stop at Mankapur railway station, and buses have been arranged to take passengers to the railway station," Singh told PTI.
He said the railway's technical team would investigate the cause of the accident.
The Railway Ministry said a high-level inquiry had been ordered, apart from the probe by the Commission of Railway Safety.
The ministry said an enhanced ex-gratia amount of Rs 10 lakh would be given to the relatives of those killed. The grievously injured passengers would get Rs 2.5 lakh and those with minor injuries Rs 50,000.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed the local administration to ensure proper medical treatment for the injured.
The authorities released several helpline numbers, including 89574 00965 (Gonda), 89574 09292 (Lucknow) and 99575 55960 (Dibrugarh).
Initially, UP Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak, who had rushed to the site of the accident, had told media persons that four persons had died in the accident but later two were revived.
“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),” said Sabyasachi De, Chief Public Relations Officer, Northeast Frontier Railway.
Gonda District Magistrate Neha Sharma, who reached the spot, confirmed the derailment of eight coaches of the train adding that the injured were rescued and rushed to hospital. “The relief operations are on at the site with SDRF and NDRF teams carrying out the rescue work,” she said.
Senior railway and local administration officials were at the accident site to supervise the rescue operations and restore rail traffic on the track. Initially, the inclement weather hampered the rescue operation but the police team and State Disaster Response Force completed the task in a few hours.
A 40-member medical team and 15 ambulances were at the spot and more medical teams and ambulances were being rushed to the spot, said UP relief commissioner GS Naveen Kumar. Of the 34 passengers who suffered injuries, 25 were admitted at Mankapur CHC, five at Qazidevar CHC, three were taken to Gonda district hospital and the remaining two were referred to Lucknow. One of the two being brought to Lucknow succumbed to his injuries on the way.Taking cognizance of the incident, UP CM Yogi Adityanath directed the local administration to provide assistance to the affected passengers. The chief minister asked the officials to ensure proper medical treatment of the passengers injured in the accident.
According to the relief commissioner's office, the helpline numbers -- Gonda: 8957400965, Lucknow: 8957409292 -- have been launched.
The Railway Board also issued the following helpline numbers - Commercial Control: 9957555984, Furkating (FKG): 9957555966, Mariani (MXN): 6001882410, Simalguri (SLGR): 8789543798, Tinsukia (NTSK): 9957555959, Dibrugarh (DBRG): 9957555960.
Since the express train was Dibrugarh-bound, a special train was arranged from Gorakhpur to take the passengers to their destination.
As per railway authorities, besides a probe by the railway commissioner of safety, a high-level probe was also ordered into the incident. The railway ministry announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the next kin of the deceased, Rs 2.5 lakh to critically injured passengers and Rs 50,000 to those who suffered minor injuries.
Meanwhile, Assam CM Himanata Biswa Sarma's office said that the CM was closely monitoring the situation. Taking to X, it said, “HCM Dr Himanta Biswa has been briefed about the derailment of Dibrugarh - Chandigarh express in Uttar Pradesh. HCM is monitoring the situation and the Government of Assam is in touch with relevant authorities.”
