World

Train derails in India's 3rd accident in 10 days

August 29, 2017
Workers repair the track near upturned coaches of the Duronto Express in Asangaon, some 70 km from Mumbai, Tuesday. — AP
Workers repair the track near upturned coaches of the Duronto Express in Asangaon, some 70 km from Mumbai, Tuesday. — AP

NEW DELHI — A passenger train partly derailed Tuesday morning in western India, the third rail accident in the country in 10 days.

Rescuers were working to pull out people who were trapped in the toppled train engine and seven coaches lying on their sides. No casualties or injuries have been reported, railway spokesman A.K. Jain said.

The train had 18 coaches and was headed from the central Indian city of Nagpur to Mumbai, capital of Maharashtra state.

It was not immediately clear what caused the derailment near the populous city of Thane, in the state of Maharashtra. The west Indian district near the commercial capital of Mumbai has suffered heavy rains over the past two days, which Jain said may have affected the track.

District authorities have organized buses to ferry the passengers to their destinations, said Sunil Udasi, a railway official.

Rail traffic in the area has been affected and trains were being diverted till the track was cleared and checked, Udasi said.

Railway authorities have ordered an investigation into the accident, which occurred 10 days after five cars of an express train jumped the track in northern India, killing 22. A few days later, another train derailed in northern India, leaving 81 people injured.

Accidents are common on India's massive but aging railway network. Safety standards have been an ongoing concern on the state-run system, which operates 9,000 passenger trains and carries some 23 million passengers every day. — AP


August 29, 2017
163 views
HIGHLIGHTS
World
14 hours ago

Syrian president rules out joining Abraham Accords

World
14 hours ago

Manhunt under way after two police officers shot dead in rural Australian town

World
14 hours ago

Outrage after Israel kills five journalists in ‘double-tap’ attack on Gaza hospital