Utkal Express derailment: Suresh Prabhu asks railway chairman to fix responsibility by today

Railway minister Suresh Prabhu says he would not allow laxity in operations by the Railway Board as 24 passengers died and at least 156 were injured in the Kalinga Utkal Express derailment at Khatauli in Muzaffaranagar.

A day after 24 people were killed in a train derailment in Uttar Pradesh, railways minister Suresh Prabhu on Sunday said that he has directed the Chairman Railway Board (CRB) to fix responsibility on prima facie evidence by the evening.

Rescuers try to retrieve the body of a victim from upturned coaches of the Kalinga-Utkal Express after an accident near Khatauli, in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday. (AP Photo)

He also said that he would not allow laxity in operations by the Railway Board.

“Will not allow laxity in operations by the (Railways) Board. I have directed CRB to fix responsibility on prima facie evidence by end of day,” Prabhu said in a tweet.

Fourteen coaches of the train enroute to Haridwar in Uttarakhand from Odisha derailed on Saturday evening in the Meerut-Saharanpur Division in Uttar Pradesh.

It went off the tracks with one of the coaches mounting on another. At least 156 passengers were injured in the accident.

“Restoration is top priority. Seven coaches tackled. Also ensuring best possible medical care for the injured. Monitoring situation closely,” the railways minister added.

Railways spokesperson Anil Saxena told IANS that the Railways Commissioner (Safety) would be visiting the accident site to conduct preliminary inspection.

The railway official also said that a terror angle has not been ruled out.