25 killed as trains collide in UP

At least 25 people were killed and 100 injured Monday when an express train rammed into a stationary goods train in Uttar Pradesh, officials said.

The accident took place in Sant Kabir Nagar district, about 230 km from here, around 11 a.m. As a result of the impact of the collision, six coaches of the Gorakhdham Express - one AC coach, one sleeper, and four general - were derailed.

District authorities confirmed that 15 bodies were taken out from the coaches while 10 passengers died in hospital. They said 100 people were injured in the accident.

Senior railway officials, however, refused to confirm the number of dead and said that the priority as of now was to rescue the injured and send them to hospital.

The express train was headed to Gorakhpur from New Delhi. The first six coaches of the Gorakhdham train have been severely damaged.

D.D. Pandey, the station master of Khalilabad railway station near which the accident took place, absconded soon after the accident. He apparently gave the green signal to the passenger train while the goods train was standing on the same track.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav offered condolences to the victims' families and deputed state Health Minister Ahmad Hasan to oversee the rescue and relief operations.

Besides, he directed the district authorities to provide prompt medical help to those injured.

Bharatiya Janata Party national president and MP from Lucknow Rajnath Singh and former UP chief minister Mayawati also offered their condolences.