At UP train accident site, drones and long-range cameras helped spot trapped people

Seven people were killed and about 20 others injured after five coaches of Delhi-bound MLDT NDLS Express derailed near Harchandpur area of Rae Bareli district in Uttar Pradesh early on Wednesday.

Officials are using drones and long-range cameras to get an overview of the accident site near Harchandpur area of Uttar Pradesh’s Rae Bareli district where five coaches of Delhi-bound MLDT NDLS Express derailed killing at least seven passengers and injuring more than 20.

Drones and long-range cameras were used to monitor the situation at the site of train derailment in UP’s Rae Bareli. Seven people died in the accident. (ANI photo)

Officials of the Northern Railways (NR) said a portion of railway track was uprooted from its original position after the accident. They said accident relief trains from Lucknow and Varanasi districts have been rushed to help detach the derailed bogies and repair the damaged track.

The train number 14003 was going to New Delhi from Malda town in West Bengal when the accident happened nearly 77km south of the state capital Lucknow.

Train accidents are frequent in India and Wednesday’s derailment comes at a time when the Indian Railways, the world’s fourth-biggest rail network, is looking for ways to improve service and revamp the creaking British-era infrastructure.