Two trains collided in India: at least 15 dead and dozens injured
A collision between two trains caused at least 15 deaths and dozens of injuries. It was confirmed by official sources cited by EFE. The crash occurred in eastern India, very close to the Himalayas. One of the trains carried merchandise, while the other transported passengers.
Authorities recovered the bodies of 15 people from inside the coaches, including the driver of one of the trains, Darjeeling district deputy superintendent of police Abhishek Roy said. About 60 people were hospitalized, but most of them were discharged. However, between 20 and 25 people remain hospitalized.
The accident was so violent that one of the cars was on top of another. According to the chief minister of the state, Mamata Banerjee, doctors, rescuers and ambulances are working in the area of the State of West Bengal.
The crash occurred in the Darjeeling district, a place that is very close to the Himalayas. In addition, Northeast Frontier Railway spokesperson Sabyasachi De reported that around 50 people had to be hospitalized and that most of the victims were railway workers.
In the images that went viral you can see how one car was left suspended in the air, while another was stuck against the other formation. From what was explained, the driver of the goods train did not obey a signal and that caused the accident.
The impact was so violent that four cars with passengers derailed. The Kanchanjunga Express is a transport that connects the state of West Bengal with the cities in the northeast of the country. Also, it is known for bringing tourists to the hill station of Darjeeling.
More than 12,000,000 people travel daily on India’s 14,000 trains, which have 64,000 kilometers (40,000 miles) of track. Although the government made efforts to improve railway safety, accidents continue to occur year after year.
More than 28 people died last year in an accident between formations in eastern India. Most are attributed to human error and also to outdated signaling equipment.
