Passenger train derailment kills 23, latest in a string of accidents in India
NEW DELHI — At least 23 people were killed and 40 others were injured when several cars of a passenger train derailed in northern India Saturday, police said.
The Utkal Express was traveling from the eastern seaside town of Puri to the northern hill town of Haridwar when the train derailed at 5:46 p.m. local time near the town of Khatauli in Uttar Pradesh.
The injured were taken to nearby hospitals and several were in critical condition, IANS news agency reported.
Cranes were deployed to lift the coaches, some of which had rammed into each other, IANS reported.
Television news video showed a mangled car that had rammed into a building alongside the tracks breaking through its wall.
Residents of the town of Khatauli were the first to reach the train and pulled out several passengers, NDTV reported.
There have been several rail accidents in India over the past year.
In November, 149 people were killed when a passenger train derailed, also in Uttar Pradesh.
In December, 40 were injured in a derailment near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh.
In January, 39 passengers were killed in a similar accident in south India.
In March, 50 people were injured when a passenger train derailed in Uttar Pradesh.