Train tragedy

India probes railways after fourth major accident claims 23 lives.

neW DelHI: India began investigating a train crash in which 23 people were killed, the fourth major accident over the past year on the world’s fourth biggest rail network which is grappling with chronic under-investment and over-crowding.

The cause of the derailment about 130km north of the capital New Delhi, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, was not known, said Northern Railways spokesman Neeraj Sharma.

Thirteen coaches of the train came off the tracks as it was heading to the Hindu holy city of Haridwar, police said.

The toll rose to 23 dead with at least 123 people injured.

Sharma said rescue operations had ended and a safety commissioner launched an investigation yesterday.

The cause of the accident was not known and the driver of the train would be one of the first people to be questioned, Sharma said. He said the death toll could rise.

A member of the railway board told reporters there was information that suggested the derailment happened because of some repair work on the track.

“If it is found that work was going on without adequate precaution and if there was any failure on the part of railway staff then appropriate action will be taken,” said the board member, Muhammad Jamshed.

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said the board had been directed to fix responsibility.

“Will not allow laxity in operations,” Prabhu said on Twitter.

Train crashes are all too common after decades of poor investment and rising demand, which usually mean packed trains are running on creaking infrastructure.

Saturday’s accident is the fourth major accident this year and the third in Uttar Pradesh. — Reuters