The accident occurred around 5.45 pm near Khatauli town, 40 km off Muzaffarnagar, leaving 23 people dead, the Uttar Pradesh police said.
Aslam Hunani analyses the train mishaps that will mark Suresh Prabhu's tenure as railway minister.
Prabhu said he was 'extremely pained by the unfortunate accidents, injuries to passengers and loss of precious lives'.
Men and women, young, old all came together to save lives where they could and provide succour -- some by providing food, while others provided medicines and a shoulder to cry on.
Prabhu was moved out of the important railway ministry and was handed over the commerce and industry portfolio in the Cabinet recast.
The railways has sent on leave its three top officials, including a secretary-level Railway Board official, suspended four and transfered one in the wake of Utkal train derailment incident which appeared to have been caused by negligence.
Three trains jumped off the tracks and another derailment was averted on Thursday in Uttar Pradesh, New Delhi and Maharashtra within a span of nine hours.
Prima facie it appears that fractured railway track is the cause of accident as per local assessment.
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