Gonda (Uttar Pradesh), Sept 14 (ANI): The bodies of 12 Kanwarias, who were crushed to death by an Express train near the Saryu Ghat Railway Station of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday night, have been recovered from the Saryu River.

At least 16 Kanwarias were reportedly killed in the accident.

The search operation was carried out by divers of the paramilitary Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC).

“The tragedy took place on the Lucknow-Gorakhpur route when Kanwarias travelling in the Lucknow-Gonda train got off in a bid to take water from the Saryu River, for offering at a temple at Karnailganj,” said Northern Railway Divisional Magistrate, Ashima Singh.

When the Kanwarias were crossing the track, another train, the Gorakhpur-bound Intercity Express, crushed them to death, Singh added.

Following the accident, a mob of Kanwarias set cabins of the railway station, some kiosks and a fire tender on fire.  

The Deputy Inspector General at Devi Patan, Sanjay S Tarde, said that the situation at Karnailganj and surrounding areas is returning to normal.

No reports of any untoward incident have been witnessed from anywhere so far, Tarde said.
The movement of trains, which came to a halt on the Lucknow-Gorakhpur section, are now moving on time. Trains from Lucknow, however, were running late. (With Inputs from ANI)