Four Coaches of Gorakhpur-Bound Train Derail at Kanpur Station

Four AC coaches of the Gorakhpur-bound Chauri Chaura Express derailed on Wednesday evening as the train left Kanpur Central railway station, though no injuries or casualties were reported.

What Happened

The incident took place at around 5.07 p.m. on platform number 7, affecting roughly 300 passengers who were riding in the four derailed coaches, numbered B-4, B-5, B-6 and B-7. Commissioner of Police Raghubir Lal said the train had departed from Anwar Ganj at about 5.03 p.m. before going off the tracks and triggering panic. Passengers reported hearing a loud noise and feeling a sudden jolt, with one traveler noting his child was thrown to the floor and another describing how his coach began tilting to one side with a rattling sound. Railway engineering teams and senior officials from Prayagraj rushed to the site for restoration work, while Deputy Commissioner of Police Satyajeet Gupta confirmed all travelers were safe and shifted to platform number 1.

Relief and Operations

Authorities arranged refreshments for the affected passengers and began organizing a special train for their onward journey, which officials estimated would take four to five hours. Travelers who chose not to continue the trip were offered a full refund, and officials stated that other train operations at the station remained unaffected by the incident. A passenger mentioned they were traveling with family for Chhath Puja when the accident happened. North Central Railways Chief Public Relations Officer Shivam Sharma stated that the cause of the derailment is not yet known and that a formal inquiry committee will be formed to examine all aspects of the event, coming on the same day another derailment involving the Kolkata-Sairang Express occurred near Guwahati in Assam.

Context

Train derailments on the Indian railway network are typically followed by safety inspections and formal technical inquiries to determine whether track defects, mechanical failures, or other factors caused the wheels to leave the rails. Kanpur Central is a major railway hub in Uttar Pradesh connecting multiple busy routes across the country. Railway stations handle thousands of daily commuters and long-distance passengers, making prompt evacuation and alternative travel arrangements standard protocol during emergencies.