Ruhelkhand Express derails,co-driver missing

The engine and the adjoining coach of the Budaun-bound Ruhelkhand Express (5309) got derailed and the engine submerged in flood waters in Kanshiram Nagar district on Friday morning after the train left Kasganj station.

The engine and the adjoining coach of the Budaun-bound Ruhelkhand Express (5309) got derailed and the engine submerged in flood waters in Kanshiram Nagar district on Friday morning after the train left Kasganj station.

While assistant driver of the train is still missing,another driver and 12 passengers were rescued from the flood waters by locals and divers. According to Government Railway Police (GRP) official,the efforts were on to trace the missing driver and get the engine out of the water.

The incident took place in a flooded area between Manpur Nagariya and Pitroi railway stations where the sleepers supporting the railway track had flown away with flood water.

As the track was damaged due to water current,the engine and the adjoining coach got derailed. Soon,the engine got submerged in water. The assistant driver,Mohammad Shaukat Khan,is still missing. Probably he is trapped in the engine,said Rajendra Singh,PRO,Izat Nagar Division,North Eastern Railway (NER). Singh said the engine driver,Chandrika Singh,was rescued by villagers and is undergoing treatment.

The driver has told the track was clearly visible and the train was running at a safe speed of 15 km per hour just before the incident. The area was flooded for last few days and trains operated on the route till 2.30 am on Friday, Singh said.

The rail traffic was disrupted on the route after the incident. Singh said the derailed bogie has been shifted from the track and the process is on to clear the route for restoration of train traffic soon.

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