At least 37 people were killed and 31 others injured when a train rammed into a bus at an unmanned crossing near Kanshiram Nagar in Uttar Pradesh in the wee hours on Thursday.
The accident occurred at around 02:20 am when the train on its way from Mathura to Chapra in Bihar rammed into the bus carrying a marriage party from Adupura village at the crossing in Dariyawganj area in this district.
Additional Superintendent of Police Daddan Prasad said the bus was carrying around 68 passengers. "Thirty seven people have been killed and 31 others injured in the mishap," he said.
Shailaja Kumari, district magistrate, Etah, said the injured have been admitted to various hospitals in Etah and Farukkhabad districts. "The injured have been taken care of and they are now in various hospitals. Everybody is out of danger," she said.
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh expressed extreme grief at the loss of life and announced ex-gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh for the kin of each person killed, Rs 50,000 each for seriously injured and Rs 10,000 each for those with simple injuries.
Dr Singh, who holds the Railway portfolio, also ordered a high-level inquiry by the commissioner of rail Safety into the mishap. A railways spokesman said the inquiry will go into the causes of the accident.
Minister of State for Railways K H Muniyappa and Railway Board Chairman Vinay Mittal have rushed to the mishap site to oversee the rescue operations.
