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| India train crash: rising death toll after two express services derail at bridge | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Multiple deaths were reported and rescue efforts were continuing after two trains derailed within minutes of each other while crossing a river bridge in central India. | |
| One of the trains was on its way to Mumbai when the accident happened in Madhya Pradesh state, while the other was travelling in the opposite direction, the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency reported. | One of the trains was on its way to Mumbai when the accident happened in Madhya Pradesh state, while the other was travelling in the opposite direction, the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency reported. |
| Rescuers searched in darkness through the night for passengers feared trapped in the carriages. As the effort continued, the railway ministry said there had been at least 20 people killed and more than 100 injured. It appeared likely that the death toll would continue to rise. | |
| Divers using gas cutters pulled out passengers trapped in waterlogged coaches, officials said. Three hundred people had been rescued by early Wednesday morning, with dozens rushed to hospital in critical condition. | |
| “We are trying to rescue passengers. Relief work is going on on a war footing. We are checking all carriages to look for trapped passengers,” said ministry spokesman Anil Saxena. | |
| Twelve coaches of the Kamayani Express to Varanasi from Mumbai derailed near Harda in the central state of Madhya Pradesh just before midnight. Six coaches of the Janata Express derailed around the same time, the railway ministry said. | |
| “There is some suggestion of flash floods on the tracks that caved the tracks. Most of the coaches had passed but the last few carriages were derailed,” Saxena said of the first train. The entire area has been reeling under heavy rainfall for the last few days.” | “There is some suggestion of flash floods on the tracks that caved the tracks. Most of the coaches had passed but the last few carriages were derailed,” Saxena said of the first train. The entire area has been reeling under heavy rainfall for the last few days.” |
| The Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, said the situation was “deeply distressing”. | The Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, said the situation was “deeply distressing”. |
| The two train accidents in Madhya Pradesh are deeply distressing. Deeply pained over the loss of lives. Condolences to families of deceased. | The two train accidents in Madhya Pradesh are deeply distressing. Deeply pained over the loss of lives. Condolences to families of deceased. |
| India’s railway minister, Suresh Prabhu, said emergency medical and other relief personnel were being rushed in but the darkness and water created difficulties. | |
| Television footage showing medical supplies being piled on a nearby station platform and rescuers combing through tilted carriages. | Television footage showing medical supplies being piled on a nearby station platform and rescuers combing through tilted carriages. |
| Twin train derailments in Madhya Pradesh; 10 bogies of Kamayani Express fall into Machak river pic.twitter.com/N4d8si4e33 | Twin train derailments in Madhya Pradesh; 10 bogies of Kamayani Express fall into Machak river pic.twitter.com/N4d8si4e33 |
| Related: Dozens die in Indian train crash | Related: Dozens die in Indian train crash |
| Monsoon rains have hit large swathes of the country in recent weeks, flooding rivers and roads and claiming scores of lives in mainly western and eastern India. | Monsoon rains have hit large swathes of the country in recent weeks, flooding rivers and roads and claiming scores of lives in mainly western and eastern India. |
| India’s railway network, one of the world’s largest, is still the main form of long-distance travel in the vast country but it is poorly funded and deadly accidents are frequent. | India’s railway network, one of the world’s largest, is still the main form of long-distance travel in the vast country but it is poorly funded and deadly accidents are frequent. |
| In 2012 a government report said almost 15,000 people were killed every year on India’s railways, describing the deaths as an annual “massacre” due mainly to poor safety standards. | In 2012 a government report said almost 15,000 people were killed every year on India’s railways, describing the deaths as an annual “massacre” due mainly to poor safety standards. |
| India’s government has pledged to invest $137bn to modernise its crumbling railways, making them safer, faster and more efficient. | India’s government has pledged to invest $137bn to modernise its crumbling railways, making them safer, faster and more efficient. |
| Agence France-Presse, Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report |