Reason for derailment not immediately known as India’s Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw says cause of accident will be identified.
The train from Anand Vihar Terminal railway station in Delhi came off the rails at around 9:35pm local time (16:05 GMT) on Wednesday as it raced to the Kamakhya Junction in Assam, the Times of India newspaper reported.
“Four casualties have been confirmed and rescue operation is under way. Twenty-one coaches have derailed,” Tarun Prakash, general manager of the East Central Railway, was quoted by the Times as saying. The ANI news agency also put the death toll at four.
Bihar train derailment: Evacuation & rescue operations end; 2 trains cancelled, 21 diverted
Follow live updates: https://t.co/fCiLz9pP0j— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) October 11, 2023
The cause of the derailment was not immediately known.
India’s Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw said on social media that rescue operations at the site of the derailment were now complete.
“Deepest condolences for the irreparable loss,” he wrote, adding that the “root cause” of the derailment will be investigated.
Deepest condolences for the irreparable loss. Will find the root cause of derailment.
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) October 11, 2023
In June, India experienced its worst train crash in two decades in Odisha, which resulted in the death of at least 288 people.