12 killed, 150 injured in India train derailment
No fewer than 12 people were killed and 150 others injured in a train derailment in
the southern Indian state of Karnataka on Friday, a senior police officer has said.
The officer said on condition of anonymity that the accident happened when nine
coaches of an express train derailed near state capital Bengaluru in the morning.
He said the Bangalore City-Ernakulam Intercity Express was going from Bengaluru
to the city of Kochi in the neighbouring state of Kerala when the incident took
place.
“Twelve people have died, those injured have been admitted to nearby hospitals
where the condition of some are said to be serious, while rescuers are trying to
pull out those still trapped inside the mangled coaches,” he said.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has wished the injured a speedy recovery.
“Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu and officials are closely monitoring the situation
and ensuring timely relief,” he said.
Meanwhile, Prabhu has said the accident happened as a boulder fell on the track
and the train hit it.
“I am personally monitoring it and in touch with state and local administration,” he
said.
The Indian Railways have also announced a compensation of 4,000 dollars to the
families of each deceased and 1,000 dollars for those injured in the incident.
The state-owned Indian Railways, one of the world’s largest train networks, runs
hundreds of trains daily, criss-crossing the country from north to south, with poor
safety record.
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