Indian train derails, at least 95 people killed

(Baonghean.vn) - At least 95 passengers died early on the morning of November 20 when a Patna-Indore express train derailed near the city of Kanpur, more than 480 km southeast of India's capital New Delhi.

Indian rescue workers search for survivors in the rubble after a train derailed near Pukhrayan, Kanpur, India early on November 20. Photo: CNN.

This is the information provided by the police headquarters in Kanpur. Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Ministry of Railways Anil Saxena also added that the number of casualties could rise. According to CNN sources, more than 150 passengers were injured, more than 40 people are in critical condition.

Worryingly, according to Javeed Ahmed - head of the local police department of Uttar Pradesh, about 70 passengers may be trapped in the carriages.

Earlier, at around 3am on November 20 (local time), 14 carriages of the 24-car train derailed. The cause of the accident and the total number of passengers and staff on board are still unknown.

Kanpur, the site of the accident, is located in Uttar Pradesh state, about 480 km southeast of the capital New Delhi. Photo: CNN.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent his condolences to the families of the victims via Twitter: “Sad beyond words at the loss of lives due to the derailment of the Patna-Indore Express. My thoughts are with the families of the unfortunate victims.”

According to the country's authorities, senior officials were immediately dispatched to the accident site. The national disaster response force was also activated and quickly arrived at the scene.

Locals and survivors gather near the scene of the accident. Photo: CNN.

India has a vast rail network that carries hundreds of thousands of passengers every day, but it is often poorly maintained. Despite being the most popular means of long-distance travel in this populous country, there are still several train accidents each year.

Phu Binh

(According to CNN)