Confusion prevailed for hours among senior police and railway officials over the death toll after the derailment Wednesday of the New Farakka Express near Rae Bareli.
While the railways maintained that five people were killed in the accident, a senior Uttar Pradesh police official initially said seven died.
Additional Director General (Law and Order) Anand Kumar told media in the morning that seven people were killed and between 30 and 35 injured in the derailment.
However, Northern Railway Divisional Regional Manager Satish Kumar said five persons died.
There was some confusion initially, the railway official said, adding that the condition of two of the patients was very serious.
When contacted again later, ADG Anand Kumar admitted, "Till now, the death toll is only five."
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