Several injured after passenger train derails in north India

NEW DELHI -- At least eight coaches of a passenger train derailed Saturday in northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, injuring several passengers, railway officials said.

The train derailed near Rampur district, about 266 km northwest of Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh.

"Today morning eight coaches of a train Meerut-Lucknow Rajya Rani Express derailed between Mundapandey and Rampur near a bridge over the Koshi river," a railway spokesman said. "We have rushed officials to the spot for speedy relief and rescue operations."

Local media reports said 10 people were injured in the accident. Officials said the cause of train derailment was being ascertained and no major injuries to passengers were reported.

Indian railways minister Suresh Prabhu said he has ordered inquiry into the accident.

Authorities have rushed India's National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams to the spot to carry out rescue and relief operation.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath Yogi has announced compensation for the injured in the accident.

Last month over two dozen passengers were injured in a similar train derailment in the state.

In January this year 39 people were killed and over 50 injured in train derailment in southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

Indian government in 2015 announced an investment of over 137 billion U.S. dollars over a period of next five years to boost railways and modernise it on new lines.

Indian sprawling railways is the world's third largest network, ferrying around 23 million people each day.

Last year a train accident in Uttar Pradesh killed 145 and injured around 200.