Gorakhdham Express train mishap death toll rises to 22: Report

The death toll in the Delhi-Gorakhpur train accident has risen to 22 on Tuesday with the recovery of eight more bodies.

The Hindu quoted District Magistrate Bharat Lal, as saying that rescue teams had recovered eight more bodies since last night.

He also said that the injury toll is presently pegged at 103, and added that gas cutters were being used to cut bogies.

Lal said efforts are on to clear the track a day after the Gorakhpur-bound Gorakhdham Express derailed and rammed into a stationary freight train near a railway station in Sant Kabir Nagar.

Six bogies of the train were damaged in the accident which occurred at around 10.35 a.m. near the Churaib Railway Station.

Preliminary reports had said that fractured rails could have led to the accident.

The UP Home Department had on Monday said that 40 people are feared killed in the accident.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced a relief of Rs. two lakh each to the kin of those killed and Rs. 50,000 for those seriously injured in the train accident in Uttar Pradesh.

He directed the Railway Ministry to ensure smooth relief operations and the best possible medical care for the injured.