Fifty people are feared dead in a train collision in West Bengal, near the Jharkhand border.
At around 2 am on Monday, the Uttar Banga Express coming in from New Cooch Bihar to Sealdah rammed a stationary Bhagalpur-Ranchi Vananchal Express at Sainthia station in Virbhum district, 191 kms from Howrah.
Casualties are feared in two general second class bogies of the Vananchal Express. These coaches and the luggage van and guard van of the train were hit. A local television channel said so great was the impact that the roof of a bogey had been detached in the collision and was thrown up on an overbridge.
Relief operations are on and around 35 bodies have reportedly been taken out of the wreckage. Equipment like gas cutters are being used to bring people out of the mangled heaps that the bogies are. The focus is on bringing people out and the locals in the area have been helping in rescue work. There are some people coming out unscathed from the mangled bogies.
Sainthia is about 22 km from Rampurhat and most of the injured are being taken to a hospital there. Some have been taken to the district headquarters, Shiuri.
The first accident relief train and medical van reached the spot at about 3.35 am. More trains are on their way from Rampurhat, Asansol and Burdwan.
Since the accident, the undamaged bogies of the Vananchal Express have been disconnected and the train has left Sainthia for Ranchi.
As Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee and senior officials rushed to the spot, questions are being raised how the two trains were on the same line.
Control rooms have been opened in Sealdah, Malda, Bhagalpur and Howrah.