Over 100 dead as Indore-Patna Express derails in Kanpur

At least more than 100 were killed and 150 got seriously injured after 14 coaches of the Patna-Indore Express derailed near Pukhrayan area of Kanpur Dehat district early on Sunday morning at 3am

This is the biggest railway accident in at least five years in terms of death toll

More than 30 ambulances had been pressed into service, adding that over 250 police officials were helping carry out rescue and relief operations

Narendra Modi has announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the next of kin of those killed in the rail accident.

Further, the PM also announced Rs 50,000 for those seriously injured

While the exact cause of the Kanpur accident will be ascertained after the inquiry report, prima facie it indicates towards rail fracture

Casualties also increased due to absence of modern Linke Holfmann Bush (LHB) coaches in the train, sources said

Had there been stainless steel LHB coaches, then the damage could have been less as these coaches have more in-built safety features which can absorb shock and impact of derailment more effectively and as a result do not topple, they added

This is the second derailment in two days as the 4 coaches of the Bhatinda-Jodhpur passenger train derailed yesterday at about 2 am leaving a dozen passengers injured in Rajasthan's Sriganganagar district

According to statistics taken from the Indian Railways, of the total accidents that occur on Indian Railways annually, 87% are due to human failure — 44% due to the failure of the railway staff and 43% due to the failure of people other than members of the railway staff