Asia-Pacific

At least 50 killed in trains collision in India

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-07-19 10:17

NEW DELHI- At least 50 people were killed and more than 110 injured as a passenger train hit from behind a stationary passenger train a ta railway station in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal early Monday morning, said police.

Rescuers have so far recovered the bodies of 40 people from the wreckage of the Bhagalpur-Ranchi Vananchal Express train, which was stationary at the Sainthia station some 200 kilometers from the city of Kolkata, when it was hit from behind by the Sealdah- bound Uttarbanga Express, said police.

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Casualties could rise as rescuers were still trying to find the bodies in compartments reduced to junks, said police.

Local TV channel showed footage of rescuers trying to bring injured people from the wreckage. Rescue works began two hours after the collision took place at 02:00 a.m. local time, said the TV reports.

Some suvivors said the accident took place when most of the passengers were sleeping.

The exact cause of the accident is not known, although human error or signal error were the most likely ones, said police.

Indian Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee had rushed to the site of the incident, said the reports.

This is the second deadly trains accident in India since May 28, the day when a train derailed and was hit by a goods train also in West Bengal state. Some 150 people were killed in that accident.  

The Indo-Asian News Service said the Vananchal Express was about to leave the station when the accident occurred.

The injured passengers were being sent to hospitals in Sainthia and Birbhum district headquarters Suri, said the news service.