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| British tourists killed as India train derails | British tourists killed as India train derails |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two British tourists have died and a number of others were injured after a train derailed in northern India. | Two British tourists have died and a number of others were injured after a train derailed in northern India. |
| The chartered four-carriage train was carrying a group of 37 Britons on the picturesque Kalka to Shimla mountain railway line, which is a Unesco world heritage site and tourist attraction. | The chartered four-carriage train was carrying a group of 37 Britons on the picturesque Kalka to Shimla mountain railway line, which is a Unesco world heritage site and tourist attraction. |
| Two carriages derailed near Kalka railway station at 13:20 local time on Saturday, a rail official told the BBC. | |
| Local police said the two Britons who died were both women in their 60s. | Local police said the two Britons who died were both women in their 60s. |
| Confirming the deaths of two British nationals, Foreign Office minister for Asia Hugo Swire said: "I am deeply saddened that two British nationals have been killed and many others injured in a train accident in northern India. | Confirming the deaths of two British nationals, Foreign Office minister for Asia Hugo Swire said: "I am deeply saddened that two British nationals have been killed and many others injured in a train accident in northern India. |
| "My thoughts are with their family and friends at this difficult time." | "My thoughts are with their family and friends at this difficult time." |
| The 36 passengers and a tour manager were on day three of a 13-day trip organised by York-based company Great Rail Journeys, which takes about 2,500 people to India annually. | The 36 passengers and a tour manager were on day three of a 13-day trip organised by York-based company Great Rail Journeys, which takes about 2,500 people to India annually. |
| Chief executive Peter Liney said: "Tragically, we can confirm that two passengers died in the accident. | Chief executive Peter Liney said: "Tragically, we can confirm that two passengers died in the accident. |
| "We are working with Foreign and Commonwealth Office to assist their relatives in travelling to India as soon as possible." | "We are working with Foreign and Commonwealth Office to assist their relatives in travelling to India as soon as possible." |
| 'Support families' | |
| He said a number of others were injured. Two passengers and the tour manager would stay in hospital overnight, but he added that their injuries were not believed to be life threatening. All other passengers had been taken to a hotel. | He said a number of others were injured. Two passengers and the tour manager would stay in hospital overnight, but he added that their injuries were not believed to be life threatening. All other passengers had been taken to a hotel. |
| Senior staff had been sent to the site to support those involved, he said. | Senior staff had been sent to the site to support those involved, he said. |
| "Our absolute priority is to support and help the families of those people who have so tragically died, along with those in hospital in India and at the hotel." | "Our absolute priority is to support and help the families of those people who have so tragically died, along with those in hospital in India and at the hotel." |
| Senior police officer Zahoor Zaidi said the two Britons killed were both women in their 60s, adding nine people were injured, including six Britons. | Senior police officer Zahoor Zaidi said the two Britons killed were both women in their 60s, adding nine people were injured, including six Britons. |
| The train had been rounding a curve when the coaches derailed, Neeraj Sharma, a railway official, told the AP news agency. | The train had been rounding a curve when the coaches derailed, Neeraj Sharma, a railway official, told the AP news agency. |
| Dinesh Kumar, divisional railway manager of Northern Railways, told the Times of India the cause of the incident was not immediately clear and an inquiry had been ordered. | Dinesh Kumar, divisional railway manager of Northern Railways, told the Times of India the cause of the incident was not immediately clear and an inquiry had been ordered. |
| Mr Swire said teams from the British High Commission in New Delhi and Deputy High Commission in the city of Chandigarh were on their way to the area to help all those affected. | |
| The 96km narrow-gauge Kalka-Shimla Railway, often called the toy train line, was opened in 1903 to connect Shimla, the summer capital of British India, with the northern plains. | The 96km narrow-gauge Kalka-Shimla Railway, often called the toy train line, was opened in 1903 to connect Shimla, the summer capital of British India, with the northern plains. |
| The railway climbs more than 4,000ft through the Himalayan foothills, and is famous for its many bridges, tunnels and panoramic views. | The railway climbs more than 4,000ft through the Himalayan foothills, and is famous for its many bridges, tunnels and panoramic views. |
| Are you in northern India? Were you in the area when this incident happened? If you are safe and willing to share your story please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in northern India? Were you in the area when this incident happened? If you are safe and willing to share your story please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include your telephone number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. | Please include your telephone number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. |
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