Two passengers were killed and over 40 injured  when 15 coaches of the Ajmer-Sealdah Express derailed this morning near Rura Railway Station in Kanpur Rural district, the second rail accident in the region in two months.

Eight of the passengers brought out of the wrecked coaches are in critical state, confirmed senior police officer Zaki Ahmed.

The incident took place around 6 AM near Rura Railway Station, 70 km from here, when the train was crossing a bridge over a dry canal in the area, North Central Railways PRO Amit Malviya said.13 sleepers and 2 general coaches of the train are derailed.

Rescue operations are over with all passengers pulled out of the derailed coaches. While 33 injured passengers have been admitted to the district hospital, 10 have been admitted to the Hallet Hospital in Kanpur, he said.

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said he was personally monitoring the situation.

"We are making alternate arrangements for passengers to continue with their onward journey," he said in a series of tweets.