At least 26 people were injured when a coal-laden goods train derailed and was hit by the Koraput-Rourkela Express near Sikir Railway Station in Orissa's Bolangir district in the early hours today.
The accident occurred at 12:35 am when the goods train derailed and tilted on the other track on which the Koraput-Rourkela Express was coming. The Express rammed into the goods train resulting in injuries to 26 people, a spokesman of the East Central Railway said.
Three bogies of the Express train were damaged in the accident. Traffic on the line has been disrupted and three trains have been cancelled.
The injured were admitted to a hospital at Titlagarh where the condition of four passengers was stated to be serious. The other passengers have been sent to Rourkela by a special train.
Mr A.K. Vohra, General Manager, East Coast Railway (ECoR), and senior railway officials from Bhubaneswar rushed to the site immediately. The Divisional Railway Manager, Sambalpur, with his team of officers and relief train reached the accident site and launched the rescue operation.
The stranded passengers have been evacuated by a special train.
Several trains (Sambalpur-Rayagada-Sambalpur Intercity Express and Titlagarh-Howrah Ispat Express) have been cancelled and some others (Bhubaneswar-Kurla Express, Surat-Puri Express) diverted and some short terminated. There will be no services between Titlagarh and Bilaspur, an official release said.