NEW DELHI - At least 22 people were killed and more than 50 others injured in a train derailment in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh Friday, a senior police officer said.

"The mishap happened when two coaches of the Dehradun-Varanasi Janta Express train derailed at the Bachhrawan railway station, some 30 km from the state's Rae Bareli district around 10 am ( local time)," he said on condition of anonymity.

Rescuers have pulled out 22 bodies so far and the death toll may go up later in the day, he said, adding those injured have been admitted to nearby hospitals.

Local TV channels showed footage of rescuers cutting the mangled coaches using gas cutters to pull out passengers still feared trapped, with some reports saying that a brake failure led to the mishap.

Indian Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has said that the railways has been prioritising safety as a "thrust area". "An inquiry has been ordered into the incident," he also said.

The Indian Railways has announced a compensation of two lakh rupees ($4,000) for each of the families of the deceased.