Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
AN INDIAN EXPRESS train ploughed into a crowd of Hindu pilgrims in the country’s east today, killing 35 and triggering a riot as angry crowds went on the rampage, officials said.
The pilgrims were crossing the tracks at a station in the state of Bihar when the interstate passenger train ran into them, injuring dozens, a senior police officer said.
“Until now we have information that 35 people have been killed in the incident and dozens are injured,” S.K. Bharadwaj, an additional director general of police, who is overseeing security at the crash site, told AFP.
Crowds converged on the Rajya Rani Express, setting carriages on fire and ransacking Dharhara station, some 178 kilometres (110 miles) from the state capital Patna, local railway chief Arun Malik told AFP.
“Six carriages have been set on fire and the station has been ransacked by the mob. Our staff have fled the station fearing attacks,” Malik said.
A senior railways official said it appeared the pilgrims were not aware of the incoming express train.
There are hundreds of accidents on India’s railways annually.
In 2012, a government report said that almost 15,000 people were killed every year crossing India’s rail which it described as an annual “massacre” due to poor safety standards.
Pedestrians guilty of “unlawful trespassing” walk across the tracks at many unofficial crossing points, the report said, adding that about 6,000 of the deaths occur in the congested and frenetic city of Mumbai alone.
Attempts to stop people riding on the roofs of trains have largely failed, vehicles routinely drive around barriers at crossings and passengers are often seen hanging out of open doors in the carriages.
The data is not broken down, but a vast majority of these deaths are people falling from the open doors of carriages or being hit on the tracks, which are mostly unsecured.
One of India’s worst rail accidents was in 1981 when a train plunged into a river also in Bihar, killing an estimated 800 people.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Good article..best of luck with your recovery
Can relate to all of that. It’s invisible. Having someone change plans all of a sudden is a nightmare, having planned every step of the journey for ages beforehand!
I can relate a lot to this having a TBI 11 years ago and a stroke all at 19. At the start was a very traumatic time for me and my family having to learn to walk talk dealing with serious bursts of aggression from frustration and adapt to daily living. I have a successful business now for 8 years but everyday day still has its obstacles be it the chronic fatigue that comes with a TBI to the chronic headaches or your mind just blanking out it’s not easy and as Linda says it’s invisible and very hard for people to understand what’s going on with you. I now am married and have a beautiful 19 month son that brings so much joy to my wife and I everyday and it kills me to come home some days after a bad day and he’s there just waiting for your undivided attention but your just not able.
Very interesting article. I know from experience how difficult it can be when often the slightest thing is a trigger. You certainly have given yourself every opportunity to recovery and to live life well.
Well done on your recovery!
Jigsaws are a great therapy for any person recouping from brain injury and/or brain surgery. Have been there and done that many moons ago.
Ah – I know it well – my wife had ABI – Acquired Brain Injury as a result of a stroke.
It takes time but eventually heals -
It’s very hard when symptoms are invisible . I know that feeling . People are so fast to judge you also…. I wish you well in your recovery … x
Good on ya, Linda.
have your say