As many as 22 coaches
of Sabarmati Express passenger train, from Varanasi to Ahmedabad (19168),
derailed between Kanpur and Bhimsen stations in Uttar Pradesh early Saturday 17
August morning after its engine struck an object on the tracks, officials said. There have no reports of injuries
immediately.
Sabarmati Express
derails: Ahmedabad-bound train 'hit by objects placed on track' near Kanpur.
The Indian Railways has sent buses to help
passengers reach Kanpur and arrangements have been made for the passengers to
continue their journey to Ahmedabad.
The loco pilot said
that some boulder hit the front portion of the engine which got badly damaged.
According to the
Indian Railways, seven trains have been cancelled and three diverted due to the
derailment. According to the railways
train enquiry website, derailed at 2:29am on Saturday, approximately 30 minutes
after departing from Kanpur Central station, near Bhimsen.
On the same track
Patna-Indore train has crossed uninterrupted at 1:20am.
Initial reports suggest that a boulder may have hit
the engine, damaging the cattle guard.