Coaches of the train travelling from Prayagraj to New Delhi derailed at about 1 a.m near Rooma industrial estate, about 15 km from Kanpur. The coaches have been severely damaged, although there were no reports of any casualty.

About 15 ambulances were rushed to the site of the accident to take injured passengers to the hospital. A 45-member team from the National Disaster Response Force is also at the spot.

The passengers said that they heard a loud explosion before they were thrown off their seats.

Indian Railways spokesperson Smita Vats Sharma told the media that a relief train with medical equipment had also reached the site.

"No casualties, no serious injuries. All the passengers have been evacuated. An Accident Relief Train (ART) and Accident Relief Medical Equipment (ARME) were dispatched to the accident site. The main route has been impacted due to the derailment."

Kanpur District Magistrate Vijay Vishwas Pant said: "Rescue operation is underway. No casualties have been reported till now. Buses are being arranged to take passengers to Kanpur railway station from where a train will take them onward to Delhi."

At least 12 trains were cancelled and five others diverted via Deen Dayal Upadhyay-Lucknow-Kanpur route, railway officials said.

Restoration work of the track would be completed by 4 p.m., the officials added.