More than 23 persons died and around 70 were injured, some critically, when 10 coaches of the Haridwar-bound Kalinga Utkal Express derailed at Khatauli, 24 km from Muzaffarnagar in western Uttar Pradesh on Saturday evening.

Initial probe into the accident revealed that the track on which the Kalinga Utkal Express derailed was under repair near Khatauli but there was negligence in conveying the information to the train driver.

UP’s principal secretary (home), Arvind Kumar said the derailment was caused by sudden application of brakes by the train driver. “There was some work on the tracks but no flagging was done,” he told HT.

Prima facie there was no indication of sabotage, Kumar added. Railway officials said at least 15 metres of the track had been taken off and was being replaced when the Puri-Haridwar train appeared.

With no option left, labourers ran for their lives leaving the equipments and the replacement track, which were later found under coach A-1 of the derailed train.

“The railway track was found broken underneath the coach A-1 and clamps were lying on other side of the track,” said a railway official.

As per the probe, even the Khatauli station staff was not aware that the repair work was still underway.

“If alert had been sounded, then the Utkal Express would not have reached Khatauli,” a railway official said.

The probe is now looking at why no alert was sounded between Meerut and Muzaffarnagar.

Ex-gratia of Rs 3.5 lakh for those who lost their lives and Rs 50000 for seriously injured,” Prabhu Indian Railway Minister announced.