Train Accident: Trains Fall Off Bridge In Northern India Following Heavy Rains, Casualties Feared [Breaking]
NDTV is reporting about a major train derailment from the Central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. According to initial reports, several coaches belonging to two different trains derailed on the same bridge and fell into a river. The accident happened when the two trains were crossing each other and ended up on the bridge at the same time. Reports say that the river flowing beneath the bridge was overflowing due to heavy monsoon rains in the area.
The derailment happened over a bridge built over the Machak river near the town of Harda in Madhya Pradesh. Officials have identified the two trains involved in the mishap. The first train, the Kamayani Express, was on its way from Mumbai to the holy city of Varanasi while the second train was the Janata Express going towards Mumbai from Jabalpur, in the opposite direction. Senior officials are unsure about the casualty figures at this point. However, there have been reports of people reportedly washed away by the flood waters.
The accident happened just before midnight of Tuesday, August 4, and happened around 160 kilometers (100 miles) from the state capital city of Bhopal. Railway officials have reportedly reached the derailment spot and rescue operations are underway as we file this report.
Anil Saxena, a senior railway official, told the Hindustan Times;
“There was water on tracks and the bridge was submerged. So the last bogies of Kamayani Express got derailed. Simultaneously, on the other track the engines and coaches of the Janata Express also got derailed,”
According to Harda District Collector Rajnish Srivastava, the bridge was located between Khirkiya and Harda stations.
Several bogies of the two trains, as well as one of the locomotives of the train, reportedly fell off the bridge. There were initial reports of some passengers been electrocuted while being rescued. This has not been confirmed yet.
The first train carrying a group of emergency personnel and senior railway officials reached the spot a few minutes ago. Indian railways minister Suresh Prabhu tweeted out several details regarding the accident from his verified Twitter account.
Rail Admn & MP govt working together to rescue passengers of Kamyani express accident.Directed GM, DRM,RPF medical staff to rush.
— Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) August 4, 2015
Local villagers,Admn r also in rescue operation. Everything that’s necessary and possible being done.Constant in touch with CM MP&Rail off
— Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) August 4, 2015
@Itssumitjain is all ok? R u at spot?
— Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) August 4, 2015
Meanwhile, villagers from the nearby areas have joined in the rescue efforts to rescue the passengers — and to offer help to the accident victims.
The Indian railways network is one of the largest and busiest networks in the world. However, of late, the state-run entity has been facing several challenges as it attempts to modernize itself. Several accidents have taken place in the past few months alone.
[Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images]
