Gorakhpur accident: Railway minister announces compensation; loco pilot, driver suspended

Union Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda said here on Wednesday that the loco pilot and driver of the Krishak express have been suspended after 12 people died and 40 were left injured as the former hit the Lucknow-Barauni Express near Gorakhpur late on Tuesday night.

"The accident was due to the loco-pilot overshotting the signal near Gorakhpur. The loco pilot and driver have been suspended immediately. We will take further action according to provisions in the Railways Act," Gowda told ANI here.

He also announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the families of those who died, Rs 1 lakh to those who were seriously injured and Rs 20 thousand to the simply injured in the mishap.

He also confirmed that there have been 12 deaths and about 45 persons have been injured, out of which 12 persons have been grievously injured and 33 percent are simply injured.

"They have been taken to the hospital. Our officers rushed to the spot immediately, without any delay. They lifted the injured to hospitals and took other security measure in a war footing," Gowda added.

Gowda also pointed out that train movement had geared up already, "Tracks are cleared and train movement has started."

At 11.15 pm last night, the Krishak Express had a side-collision when its locomotive collided with a moving train, the Lucknow-Barauni Express, near the Gorakhpur Cant station. The eighth and ninth coaches capsized, while the seventh coach was derailed.

The Krishak Express was travelling from Varanasi to Gorakhpur while the Lucknow-Barauni Express was going from Lucknow to Barauni.