Indian media reported Thursday that a devastating train derailment has claimed at least four lives and left numerous individuals injured. The incident occurred when 21 coaches of an express train derailed in the state of Bihar. Authorities are currently conducting a massive rescue mission to assist the victims.
The ill-fated train, originating from Anand Vihar Terminal railway station in Delhi, was en route to the Kamakhya Junction in Assam when disaster struck late Wednesday night. According to the Times of India, the train came off the rails in a horrifying accident.
“Four casualties have been confirmed, and a rescue operation is underway. Twenty-one coaches have derailed,” stated Tarun Prakash, the general manager of the East Central Railway, as reported by TOI.
Another news agency, ANI, has also confirmed the death toll to be four at this time.
Reports from the scene indicate that some of the injured passengers were rushed to nearby hospitals, though the exact number of injured individuals remains unclear.
Expressing his condolences, the Railways Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, took to X (formerly Twitter) and said, “Deepest condolences for the irreparable loss.” He further mentioned that an evacuation and rescue operation had been successfully completed and that passengers were being transferred to a different train for their onward journey. However, the minister did not confirm the final death toll resulting from the train derailment.
India, with one of the world’s largest rail networks, has witnessed several railway disasters over the years, with the worst in 1981 when a train derailed while crossing a bridge in Bihar state, leading to a tragic loss of 800 lives. Just a few months ago, in June, a triple-train collision claimed the lives of nearly 300 people in Odisha state. In August, another rail-related incident occurred, resulting in the deaths of at least nine people when a coach parked in southern India caught fire while a passenger attempted to make tea.
This latest incident is a stark reminder of the challenges and safety concerns that continue to plague India’s extensive railway network.
