A train carrying 1000 people derailed, killing nine and leaving at least 45 injured.
The accident on the Guwahati-Bikaner Express occurred at around 5pm local time on Thursday, Jan. 13, near Moynaguri in the state of West Bengal in India.
Photos shared online showed passengers stuck in wreckage of the disaster, while railway sources speaking to TV station NDTV said that petrol saws are being used to cut open battered coaches.
One of the coaches can be seen turned over on top of another in the aftermath of the crash.
Indian Railways spokesperson Rajesh Bajpai said four out of 12 carriages on the interstate express train veered off the track in the state’s Jalpaiguri district.
Rescue efforts from authorities on the affected coaches continued late into the evening on Jan 13 with injured passengers taken to Jalpaiguri Sadar Hospital, according to The Hindustan Times.
West Bengal government sources say that 10 were critically injured.
A passenger onboard described the accident to Indian news agency PTI, saying: “We felt a sudden shock. We were all rocking violently and luggage kept on upper berths tumbled all around.”
The ministry for railway travel has announced that a compensation package of ?5 lakh (£4,929) for families of the deceased, ?1 lakh (£985) for “severely injured” passengers, and ?25,000 (£246) for people with minor injuries.
