An express train going from Guwahati to Bangalore and another passenger train derailed after a collision in Malda district, 347 kilometres north of the state capital Kolkata.
Police sources said one passenger was killed and 50 were injured and railway officials are supervising rescue operation at the scene. Indian railway spokesperson Anil Kumar Saxena confirmed the body of an elderly woman was found near the derailed engine of the Guwahati-Bangalore Express.
Indian railway minister Dinesh Trivedi however said that her death was not due to the train accident after taking stock of the accident. He said 20 people have been injured in the accident and he has ordered a probe into the accident and the report will be available by Monday.
The accident occurred at 19:05 local time when the engine of the Guwahati-Bangalore Express train, which was on its way to the southern city, derailed first and were hit by the Azimganj-Malda Town passenger train, local railway sources said.
While six coaches and the engine of Guwahati-Bangalore Express derailed, three general bogies and the engine of the passenger train also derailed, they said.
The passenger train was coming from the opposite direction on the second line when the driver applied emergency brakes after seeing the derailed coaches but could not stop it from crashing.
The accident has affected train services on Malda route with seven trains cancelled. (C003)
Editor: Ella Syafputri
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