Train accidents happen frequently in India. About 12 million people travel by train in the country every day. However, hundreds of accidents occur due to the old and neglected railways, the inadequacy of the signaling system and human errors.
Most recently, about 220 kilometers southwest of Kolkata, the derailment of two passenger trains caused one of the deadliest train accidents in the country’s history. It was stated that 10 to 12 cars of a train derailed and another passenger train crashed into this train, coming from the opposite direction.
The cause of the accident is being investigated
The cause of the accident is not yet known. Amitabh Sharma, spokesperson for the Ministry of Railways, announced that an investigation has been launched into the accident. Sharma said possible causes of the accident could include broken rails, malfunction of the brake system or the carelessness of drivers.
After the accident, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the rescuers who went to the scene and wished the injured a speedy recovery. Modi sent condolences to the families of those killed in the crash and promised that the government would provide the necessary assistance.
The last major train accident in India was in August 1995. Two trains collided near New Delhi, killing 358 people. Experts state that India needs to modernize its railway infrastructure.
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