About half a dozen passengers were injured and rail traffic between Mumbai and northern parts of the country was disrupted after 14 coaches of Patna-Kurla Janata Express derailed near Mandwa station, about 40 kms from Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh, early on Tuesday, Central Railway sources said.

The mishap took place between Mandwa and Chandni stations under Khandwa-Bhusawal division of Central Railway around 1 am due to suspected fault in the tracks, the sources said.

About half a dozen passengers, who sustained minor injuries, have been given first aid, they said.

The rail traffic between Mumbai and northern India has been paralysed due to the derailment and both up and down trains, numbering over 18, were diverted via Nagpur-Bhusawal and Itarsi, they said.

Senior railway officials have reached the site and a special relief train was operated to take the passengers of Patna-Kurla Janata Express to Bhusawal station.

An inquiry has been ordered into the accident and Commissioner (Rail Safety) of the Central Railways would carry out the investigation.

Efforts are on for resumption of rail traffic on one of the track as soon as possible, sources added.