- FAO Warns of ‘Silent Crisis’ as Land Loss Threatens Billions |
- Indices tumble on both bourses amid broad-based sell-off |
- BNP Names 237 Possible Candidates for Polls |
- Bangladeshi leader of disabled people of world Dulal honoured |
- UN Report Warns Inequality Fuels Global Pandemic Vulnerability |
Indian passenger train collision with cargo train kills 5
At least five people were killed and several others injured Tuesday after a passenger train collided with a cargo train in central India, a senior official said.
The accident occurred near Bilaspur, around 116 kilometers (72 miles) from Chhattisgarh’s capital, Raipur. Television footage showed the trains after the collision, with rescuers combing through the wreckage for survivors.
Sanjay Agarwal, a senior government official, told reporters that the passenger train struck the cargo train from behind, causing some coaches to topple. “Rescue teams are cutting through the train to free passengers trapped inside,” he said.
Indian Railways, the network operator, said in a statement that all available resources had been deployed to rescue the victims and transport the injured to nearby hospitals. An inquiry into the cause of the crash has also been launched.
Train accidents remain a recurring problem in India, where the extensive rail network faces challenges from aging infrastructure and human error. Over 12 million passengers travel daily on more than 14,000 trains across 64,000 kilometers of track. Despite government efforts to enhance safety, hundreds of accidents occur each year, often linked to outdated signaling or human mistakes, reports UNB.
India witnessed one of its deadliest train disasters in 2023, when a collision in the eastern region claimed over 280 lives.