Flash floods derailed trains in MP?

The chairman of the Railway Board, A.K. Mittal, said on Wednesday that the derailment of the two trains near Harda in Madhya Pradesh may have been caused by a sudden flash flood.

Speaking to ANI, Mittal said that ten minutes before the unfortunate tragedy, spot train movement was absolutely normal, and there was no inkling about a mishap taking place.

Mittal told ANI, "This unfortunate incident took place at 11.30 p.m. yesterday night. The Kamayani Express from Mumbai to Varanasi and the Janata Express going towards Mumbai was passing 20 kilometers from Harda near a bridge. I can confirm that we have lost ten lives in the Kamayani Express and two lives in the Janata Express."

He further told ANI, "Ten minutes ago, at this spot, train movement was normal, and there was no problem. It appears that suddenly a flash flood came in ten minutes time, which resulted in the disturbance of railway track, and consequently, in the derailment of the two trains."

Ravi P Chaturvedi, the Area Manager for Northern Railway, announced helpline numbers for the Varanasi Cantonment Railway Station. The helpline numbers are 05422503814 and 62733. According to reservation chart there are 179 passengers from Varanasi. At least ten bogies of two passenger trains derailed and fell into a river near Harda in Madhya Pradesh late on Tuesday night. According to reports, 25 people have been injured in the mishap and more than 300 people have been rescued so far.

Local reports said that seven coaches of the Mumbai-Varanasi Kamayani Express derailed around 11.30 p.m. while crossing the bridge over the River Machak, near the Kudawa Railway Station, which is around 25 kilometers from Harda. Minutes later, three coaches and the engine of the Jabalpur-Mumbai Janata Express, which was travelling in the opposite direction, also derailed.