Death toll from Indian train collision attains 25
NEW DELHI. May 22. KAZINFORM The death toll from the train collision which took place early Tuesday morning in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh has risen to 25 while over 70 were injured and sent to hospitals, said police.
According to Xinhua, a passenger train rammed into a goods train at a station in Pradesh's Anantapur district early Tuesday, resulting in the destruction of one coach and derailment of several others.
The Banglore-bound Hampi Express overshot a signal at a site near Penukonda railway station, about 400 km from the state capital Hyderabad.
At least 16 bodies, most of them charred beyond recognition, were found in first coach, which caught fire due to electrical short-circuiting after the collision. Seven bodies were recovered from other damaged coaches, while two persons died from their injuries in a local hospital, reported Indo-Asian News Service.
The train driver and his co-driver were among those killed in the accident that took place around 3.15 a.m. local time.
The toll may still go up as some of the injured are in very critical conditions, while some passengers are still trapped inside the damaged bogies.