November’s train derailment in Uttar Pradesh, which killed at least 150 and injured 200, was the deadliest in decades [Xinhua]
The death toll from an East India Railways derailment in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh reached 39 early Sunday, officials said, with at least 50 more injured.
At press time, rescue operations were ongoing.
The Hirakhand Express train was traveling from Jagdalpur to Bhubaneswar in the eastern state of Odisha, when it derailed around 11pm local time.
A spokesman for the rail company said that eight of the 22 coaches and the engine were derailed, but police are now investigating of the derailment was an act of sabotage by Maoist rebels.
The Andra Pradesh derailment comes three months after a train derailment accident in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh which killed at least 150 people.
At least 200 people were also injured when 14 coaches of the Indore-Patna Express derailed
Over 500 passengers were on board.
Subsequent investigations revealed that a pressure cooker explosive placed on the railway line cause the derailment.
The BRICS Post with inputs from Agencies
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