At least 50 people are killed, hundreds trapped in India passenger train derailment

Two passenger trains derailed in India on Friday, killing at least 50 people and trapping hundreds of others inside damaged rail cars.

The accident: The derailment occurred in eastern India, about 220 kilometers southwest of Kolkata, trapping hundreds of passengers and sending about 400 to hospitals.
* The cause of the accident is under investigation.
* Ten to twelve coaches of one train derailed, with debris falling onto a nearby track, then being hit by another passenger train coming from the opposite direction, causing up to three more coaches to derail.

The aftermath: In the aftermath of the accident, emergency rescuers climbed atop the wreckage to break open doors and windows, using cutting torches to free survivors.
* Nearly 500 police officers and rescue workers, along with 75 ambulances and buses, responded to the scene, where rescuers attempted to free as many as 200 people feared trapped in the wreckage.

Rail safety in India: Despite government efforts to improve rail safety, several hundred accidents occur each year on India’s railways, the largest train network under one management in the world.
* Most train accidents are blamed on human error or outdated signaling equipment.

View original article on NPR

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