Passenger train crashes in southern India

A passenger train derailed early Saturday in southern India, crashing into a rain-swollen river that had washed away the tracks, officials said. At least 15 people were believed to be dead.

The accident happened near the town of Veligonda in southern Andhra Pradesh state, railway officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Railway officials are worried that many more people could have been killed, as up to seven train cars, each carrying 50 to 60 passengers, crashed into the river.

The heavy rains have also washed away many roads, making rescue efforts difficult. Rains have been battering southern India more than a week, claiming at least 90 lives in the Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, mostly in drownings, electrocutions and collapsing houses, AP reports.

A. A.