Muzaffarnagar accident: Odisha announces Rs 5 lakh compensation for Odia victims

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday announced compensation of Rs five lakh to the next kin of Odia passengers who lost their lives in the Puri-Haridwar Utkal Express derailment tragedy.

Patnaik also announced Rs 50,000 for those who got injured in the mishap.

"The Chief Minister has announced 5 lakh rupees for the next kin of the deceased Odia pasangers, and the injured will get 50000," informed Rabi Narayan Naik BJP MP from Odisha.

According to reports, altogether 86 passengers, 80 in sleeper class and six in AC coach had boarded the train from the Puri station.

Reportedly, Uttar Pradesh government has informed about death of 12 Odia passengers in the derailment.

The East Coast Railway has opened a helpline number - 1072 - to provide information on the accident.

Fourteen coaches of Puri-Haridwar-Kalinga Utkal Express derailed in Muzaffarnagar's Khatauli area. 23 people have lost their lives till now and 40 are said to be injured. The incident took place around 5:50 pm on Saturday.