At least seven die when trains collide in southern India

At least seven die when trains collide in southern India

2011-09-14 04:52:33 GMT+7 (ICT)

CHENNAI (BNO NEWS) -- At least seven people were killed on late Tuesday evening and dozens more have been injured after two trains collided in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, officials said. Fears are the death toll could rise.

The accident happened just before 9.30 p.m. local time in the Vellore district when an Electric Multiple Unit train collided with another passenger train which was waiting for a signal. As a result, five carriages derailed.

Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi said at least seven people have been killed as a result of the accident, although police fear the death toll could rise to fifteen as several bodies are believed to be trapped in the wreck. More than 85 people have been injured.

Trivedi announced compensation of 500,000 Indian rupees ($10,528) for the families of those killed in the accident, while compensation of 200,000 Indian rupees ($4,211) was promised to those who were seriously injured. Compensation for those with minor injuries was also announced.

The Railway Minister said preliminary details point to a signal malfunction, but said all possible causes are being looked into as the investigation is in its early stages. The driver of the EMU train, which was traveling from Chennai Beach to Vellore Cantonment, was among the fatalities.

India's railroad network is the fourth largest in the world and carries more than 14 million passengers and over a million tonnes of freight daily. But accidents are common, mainly as a result of poor maintenance and human error.

Most recently, on July 10, a total of 70 people were killed and more than 300 others were injured when a passenger train bound for the Indian capital of New Delhi derailed in Uttar Pradesh state. Hours later, another passenger train derailed in western Assam state, injuring around 50 people.

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