Two trains derail in India; at least 24 killed, 300 rescued

Two passenger trains derailed over a bridge in central India while crossing a track that was flooded by heavy monsoon rains, killing at least 24 people, officials said Wednesday. More than 300 people have been rescued.

The Kamayani Express was on its way to Mumbai when it derailed late Tuesday night near the town of Harda in Madhya Pradesh state, and the Janata Express was traveling in the opposite direction when it derailed soon after.

The trains were crossing a small bridge near the rain-swollen Machak River, about 590 miles south of New Delhi. Another train had passed the same culvert 10 minutes before the first derailment without any problem, but then a flash flood caused part of the track to sink into the rain-soaked ground, said A.K. Mittal, a senior railway officer.

Six coaches from the Kamayani Express and the engine and four coaches from the Janata Express derailed. The accidents occurred just before midnight, and although rescue workers soon reached the site, their efforts were hampered by the darkness, officials said.

At least two coaches had been partially submerged in the mud, said railway official Anil Saksena. While most people had been pulled to safety, rescue workers were still searching for trapped passengers.

“We are getting reports that there were flash floods and the tracks caved in. Most of the coaches had passed but the last few carriages were derailed,” Saksena said.

At least 24 bodies have been recovered and one person was seriously injured, said Bijendra Kumar, a railway official in Bhopal, the main city in Madhya Pradesh state.

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Junior Home Minister Kiren Rijiju said more than 300 people had been rescued. By Wednesday morning, the unaffected coaches had been moved from the tracks and rescue operations were nearing a close, according to Kumar. He said that railway workers would soon start repairing the tracks so traffic could resume. Dozens of trains have been blocked from moving due to the accident, while others have been diverted to other routes.

The rain eased Wednesday after two days of heavy downpour.

India has one of the world’s largest railway networks and carries more than 23 million passengers each day. However, many parts of the vast network are poorly maintained and accidents are common.

While many trains are called express, they rarely travel faster than 30 miles an hour.

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