115 killed in derailment in India northern Uttar Pradesh state

The death toll following the derailment of a train in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state has reached at least 115, with more than 150 injured, police were quoted by BBC News as saying.

Fourteen carriages of the Indore-Patna Express derailed just after 03:00 local time on Sunday (21:30 GMT Saturday) near the city of Kanpur.

Rescuers are still trying to reach the injured and recover the dead from the twisted carriages.

The cause of the crash near the village of Pukhrayan is not yet known.

However, local media quoted sources as saying a fracture in the track could have been to blame.

The death toll has been rising steadily all day and is expected to increase further.

Earlier in the day, Egypt offered condolences to the Indian government over the deaths.

Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said the government stands by the Indian government and people in this ordeal. He also expressed solidarity with the victims’ families and wished speedy recovery for the injured.

Source: MENA