Passenger Train Derails and Slams into Cargo Service in India, 65 Killed

At least 65 people have been killed after an apparently sabotaged passenger train derailed and was then hit by a cargo service in eastern India.

Photo: Passenger Train Derails and Slams into Cargo Service in India, 65 Killed

Television footage showed the mangled wreckage of carriages across the tracks and the death toll could rise, as many passengers were still trapped.

At least 200 people were injured during the collision in West Bengal state, Sky News reports.

"As of now, we have got information that 65 dead bodies have been recovered. There may be many more," Samar Ghosh, Home Secretary of West Bengal state where the incident occurred, told NDTV news channel, according to reports in Swissinfo.

Rail authorities initially claimed that an explosion in the rail tracks have triggered the incident. But police officials, after preliminary survey, indicated more than a foot of tracks were cut out and fish plates were removed.

"We are not yet sure of the Maoist hand at this moment, though it can't be ruled out either," said divisional railway manager Anil Handa.

"Law and order is a state subject and these are highly sensitive areas. Rajdhani Express was detained in this area last year. The Maoists are observing Kala Divash (Black Day) between May 28 and May 31 here," said the railway minister, Hindustan Times says.