High-level inquiry to probe Coromandel Express derailment

Jajpur, Feb 14, (ANI): Minister of State for Railways R. Velu on Saturday said that a high-inquiry has been ordered into the derailment of the Howrah-Chennai Coromandel Express in Orissa's Jajpur district, which claimed nine lives.

Velu said the Commissioner of Railway Safety would conduct the probe and will submit the report within seven days.

"Forty five injured passengers are admitted to different hospitals, the condition of six of them are critical," Velu said.

Earlier, Railway officials had put the toll at 17 killed and 161 injured.

Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad yadav has announced a compensation of five lakh rupees and a job for the next of the kin of those killed and Rs. 50,000 for those seriously injured.

The train services between Howrah and Bhubaneswar have been affected following the derailment and a number of trains have either been cancelled or their routes have been diverted. (ANI)