Agra/New Delhi Oct 21 (IANS) At least 13 people were killed when two Delhi-bound passenger trains collided early Wednesday in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura city. Hours after the Goa Express rammed into the stationary Mewar Express, several people continued to be trapped in the mangled carriages.
More than 20 people were injured in the accident that occurred around 5 a.m. at an outer signal, about 55 km from here.

“Thirteen have been killed and 20 injured in the accident. The injured have been taken to four hospitals in Mathura,” said Anil Saxena, director, public relations office, in the ministry of railways in New Delhi.

“The damaged portion of both the trains are still at the site. The rear portion of the Goa Express and the front portion of the Mewar Express have left the site around 8 a.m. with the remaining passengers,” Saxena told IANS.

The Mewar Express, in which some people from the Goa Express had been accommodated, had been stopped at nearby Vrindavan. Some buses have also been arranged to take the passengers to Delhi, about 150 km away.

“Work is progressing at a fast pace and the situation should normalise within a few hours,” public relations officer Bhupendra Dhillon at the divisional railway manager’s (DRM) office here told IANS.

Traffic along the busy route that affects Delhi-West and Delhi-South trains has been disrupted. Several trains have been diverted and the Intercity Express from Agra to Hazrat Nizamuddin has been cancelled. The Taj Express and the Shatabdi from Delhi are likely to be delayed, the official added.

Trains are being diverted from Agra Cantt railway station towards Tundla junction for Delhi. Railway officials said most trains were likely to be delayed. “Arrival at Delhi would be delayed by a few hours, as there would be heavy traffic on this line via Agra Fort junction and Yamuna Bridge station towards Tundla which is connected by a second track,” an official said.

Divisional Manager Rajesh Kumar said: “It would take up to one hour to extricate the bodies and release the trapped passengers and anything between four to six hours to restore traffic on the track.”

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was in Kolkata, ordered an inquiry into the train collision and announced a compensation of Rs.500,000 for the families of the deceased.