Indian express train 'derailed' in Bihar state
BBC Page last updated at 03:58 GMT, Tuesday, 25 May 2010 04:58 UK
An express train has derailed in the eastern Indian state of Bihar, but no casualties have been reported, police officials said.
Fifteen coaches of the Rajdhani Express travelling between the capital, Delhi, and the city of Guwahati came off the rails in Katihar district.
Officials said train services on this busy route had been disrupted after the incident early on Tuesday.
They said it was not clear what caused the derailment of the train.
Last November, eight coaches of a passenger train in the eastern state of Jharkhand derailed after Maoist rebels blew up a portion of the railway track.
The Indian railway system carries millions of people daily, but has a poor safety record.
Indian express train 'derailed' in Bihar state
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Re: Indian express train 'derailed' in Bihar state
BBC Page last updated at 14:48 GMT, Saturday, 29 May 2010 15:48 UK
Night trains suspended after deadly India crash
Railway officials in eastern India have cancelled night trains in Maoist-affected areas in the wake of Friday's crash that left 118 people dead.
Police say Maoist rebels sabotaged the track, causing the derailment of the Calcutta-Mumbai express in the Jhargram area of West Midnapore.
A Maoist spokesman denied the charge.
The area is known to be a stronghold of the Maoists, who say they are fighting for the rights of tribespeople and the rural poor.
Railway officials said they would not run any night trains in Maoist areas for the next four days, while a Maoist protest takes place.
The crash happened in the early hours of Friday about 150km (90 miles) west of Calcutta.
Police said a 46cm (1.5ft) portion of the train track had been removed, causing several carriages of the passenger train to derail and smash into an oncoming goods train.
Daylight travel
On Saturday rescuers continued to pull bodies from the wreckage. Railway officials in West Bengal told the BBC that the death toll had risen to 118.
Scores more people were injured in the crash, many of them seriously.
Reports said teams had still not been able to gain access to one badly-crushed carriage where they expected to find more bodies.
In the wake of the crash, Indian Railways said passenger trains would not run on two key sections of line in West Bengal between the hours of 2200 and 0500.
The restrictions would be in place until 0500 on 3 June, the company said. Report said other services were being rescheduled to ensure they travelled through Maoist areas of eastern India in daylight.
The Maoist "black week" of protests and education campaigning is due to end on 2 June.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described the Maoist insurgency as India's biggest internal security challenge.
Night trains suspended after deadly India crash
Railway officials in eastern India have cancelled night trains in Maoist-affected areas in the wake of Friday's crash that left 118 people dead.
Police say Maoist rebels sabotaged the track, causing the derailment of the Calcutta-Mumbai express in the Jhargram area of West Midnapore.
A Maoist spokesman denied the charge.
The area is known to be a stronghold of the Maoists, who say they are fighting for the rights of tribespeople and the rural poor.
Railway officials said they would not run any night trains in Maoist areas for the next four days, while a Maoist protest takes place.
The crash happened in the early hours of Friday about 150km (90 miles) west of Calcutta.
Police said a 46cm (1.5ft) portion of the train track had been removed, causing several carriages of the passenger train to derail and smash into an oncoming goods train.
Daylight travel
On Saturday rescuers continued to pull bodies from the wreckage. Railway officials in West Bengal told the BBC that the death toll had risen to 118.
Scores more people were injured in the crash, many of them seriously.
Reports said teams had still not been able to gain access to one badly-crushed carriage where they expected to find more bodies.
In the wake of the crash, Indian Railways said passenger trains would not run on two key sections of line in West Bengal between the hours of 2200 and 0500.
The restrictions would be in place until 0500 on 3 June, the company said. Report said other services were being rescheduled to ensure they travelled through Maoist areas of eastern India in daylight.
The Maoist "black week" of protests and education campaigning is due to end on 2 June.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described the Maoist insurgency as India's biggest internal security challenge.
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John Ashworth
- Site Admin
- Posts: 23606
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Re: Indian express train 'derailed' in Bihar state
Maoist leader promises 'security' for Indian trains
BBC
Page last updated at 7:01 GMT, Tuesday, 1 June 2010 8:01 UK
By Subir Bhaumik BBC News, Calcutta
A Maoist leader in India has said that they will take "full responsibility" for the safety of trains travelling through areas under their control.
Comrade Akaash's statement comes after the rebels were blamed for Friday's train crash which left 148 people dead.
Police say Maoist rebels sabotaged the track, causing the derailment of the Calcutta-Mumbai express in West Bengal.
Maoists denied the charge. But Comrade Akaash also said they would investigate whether any rebels were involved.
Railway officials in eastern India have cancelled night trains in Maoist-affected areas after Friday's incident.
'Definite evidence'
Comrade Akaash told the BBC that they were "appealing" to the railways to run trains through rebel strongholds even during the night.
"We are promising total security to all trains. We will not allow anyone to attack any train anywhere in the country and those trying to do it will face stern punishment," he said.
The railways have not reacted to the statement.
Police say they have "definite evidence" that a local rebel Maoist militia were behind the disaster - they have named two militia leaders as the prime suspects.
One of the suspects, Umakanta Mahato, was arrested last June and charged with sedition and waging war against the state.
But he was released on bail in December, and the police did not contest the bail, court records say.
Independent lawyers are asking why the police did not contest the bail plea of a senior Maoist militia leader.
Railway officials in eastern India have cancelled night trains in Maoist-affected areas after Friday's incident.
The restrictions would be in place until 0500 [2330GMT] on 3 June, the company said.
Report said other services were being rescheduled to ensure they travelled through Maoist areas of eastern India in daylight.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described the Maoist insurgency as India's biggest internal security challenge.
BBC
Page last updated at 7:01 GMT, Tuesday, 1 June 2010 8:01 UK
By Subir Bhaumik BBC News, Calcutta
A Maoist leader in India has said that they will take "full responsibility" for the safety of trains travelling through areas under their control.
Comrade Akaash's statement comes after the rebels were blamed for Friday's train crash which left 148 people dead.
Police say Maoist rebels sabotaged the track, causing the derailment of the Calcutta-Mumbai express in West Bengal.
Maoists denied the charge. But Comrade Akaash also said they would investigate whether any rebels were involved.
Railway officials in eastern India have cancelled night trains in Maoist-affected areas after Friday's incident.
'Definite evidence'
Comrade Akaash told the BBC that they were "appealing" to the railways to run trains through rebel strongholds even during the night.
"We are promising total security to all trains. We will not allow anyone to attack any train anywhere in the country and those trying to do it will face stern punishment," he said.
The railways have not reacted to the statement.
Police say they have "definite evidence" that a local rebel Maoist militia were behind the disaster - they have named two militia leaders as the prime suspects.
One of the suspects, Umakanta Mahato, was arrested last June and charged with sedition and waging war against the state.
But he was released on bail in December, and the police did not contest the bail, court records say.
Independent lawyers are asking why the police did not contest the bail plea of a senior Maoist militia leader.
Railway officials in eastern India have cancelled night trains in Maoist-affected areas after Friday's incident.
The restrictions would be in place until 0500 [2330GMT] on 3 June, the company said.
Report said other services were being rescheduled to ensure they travelled through Maoist areas of eastern India in daylight.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described the Maoist insurgency as India's biggest internal security challenge.