26 Die as Crowd Panics, Runs in Front of Train

An express train plowed into a crowd that had rushed onto the tracks in panic during a fireworks display in southern India on Friday, and 26 people were killed, the Railway Ministry said. About 100 people were injured.

The accident occurred during a festival in Tellicherry in Kerala state, 1,100 miles south of New Delhi. Officials said a large crowd had gathered to watch a fireworks show marking the conclusion of a festival at the Hindu temple of Jagannath, or Vishnu, the preserver.

“Some firecrackers fell on the crowd and the crowd ran in panic toward the railway track,” a statement from the ministry said. “The express train was unable to stop so suddenly and unfortunately plowed into the crowd.”