New Delhi, March 20 (IANS): Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Friday said Rs.2 lakh compensation will be given to the next of kin of the 27 killed in the train derailment in Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli district

The minister said till 3.13 p.m., 24 deaths were reported but officials put the toll at 27.

Making a statement in the Rajya Sabha, the minister said the accident, as per preliminary report, occurred due to signal passing by the driver and a inquiry has been ordered.

He said 47 passengers were injured and are being treated.

Prabhu also announced Rs.50,000 as compensation for those "grievously injured" and Rs.20,000 for those who obtained simple injury.

The minister said this is higher than usual compensation.

Prabhu also said that Minister of State for Railway Manoj Sinha has rushed to the accident site.

The ghastly accident took place at Bachharwan railway station near Rae Bareli town when the Dehradun-Varanasi Janata Express was proceeding to Varanasi, an official statement said.

One of the two coaches which derailed was a sleeper class. The other was a general coach.