Dozens feared dead in India after passenger, freight trains collide
Coromandel Express train derails following collision in eastern Odisha state
Dozens of people are feared dead in India Friday after a passenger train reportedly collided with a freight train in the eastern part of the country.
The Hindustan Times is reporting at least 50 deaths following the collision involving the Coromandel Express in Odisha, in which four of its cars derailed.
"Distressed by the train accident in Odisha. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the bereaved families," India Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on Twitter.
"May the injured recover soon. Spoke to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and took stock of the situation," he added. "Rescue ops are underway at the site of the mishap and all possible assistance is being given to those affected."
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People try to escape from derailed train cars following a collision in Balasore, India, on June 2. (ANI/Reuters TV)
Rescuers were attempting to free another 200 people feared trapped in the derailed coaches, said D.B. Shinde, the Balasore district administrator in Odisha state. The cause of the derailment was being investigated.
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More than 170 people also were injured and taken to hospitals, according to media reports cited by The Associated Press.
The train was traveling from Howrah in West Bengal state to Chennai, the capital of southern Tamil Nadu state, during the time of the crash. (ANI/Reuters TV)
Amitabh Sharma, a railroad ministry spokesperson, said some mangled pieces of the derailed train fell onto a nearby track and were hit by another passenger train coming from the opposite direction.
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