Death toll rises to 60

Death toll rises to 60 in yesterday(July 19)’s train accident when the Uttarbanga Express hit the rear of the stationary Bhagalpur-Ranchi Vananchal Express at Sainthia station in Birbhum district of West Bengal early on Monday (July 19). The accident occurred at 1.54 am local time when 3148 down New Coochbehar-Sealdah Uttarbanga Express rammed into 3404 down Bhagalpur-Ranchi Vananchal Express which was leaving platform no 4 of Sainthia station.Last two coaches of the Vananchal Express train were damaged badly and due to the impact the roof of one of the coaches flew and landed atop a flyover ahead. The Army sent a 167-member team of doctors, engineers and technical staff to help rescue operations at the accident site.

The worst railway accident occurred in India on 6 June 1981, near the town of Samastipur,Bihar.A passenger train became derailed and seven of its coaches plunged into the River Bagmati. Hundreds of people  were killed, many of whom drowned. After five days 212 bodies had been recovered. But the unofficial figure was much higher over 500 or more.There were conflicting reports about the cause of the accident.According to some reports,the train was derailed after a sudden brake application by the driver because there was a buffalo on the railway track.Another theory emerged that the train had been blown into the river during a cyclonic storm.