At least three persons were killed and more than 100 injured when six coaches and the engine of the Guwahati-Bangalore Express jumped rails and were hit by a local train coming from the opposite direction on Sunday evening.
The accident happened around 10 km from Malda station, about 270 km north of Kolkata.
It is feared the death toll will go up substantially because the first bogey of the Guwahati-Bangalore Express caught fire. Four coaches of the local train were also derailed.
Eastern Railway spokesperson Samir Goswami confirmed one person had died and 18 were injured.
"It's very difficult to ascertain the cause of the derailment. We are going to rescue the passengers first and then prepare a detailed report."
A senior railway official said: "The situation worsened as one of the two bogies of the Guwahati-Bangalore Express caught fire. Even a portion of the Azimganj-Marwa passenger train fell into the canal alongside the railway track."
A team of Eastern Railway officials has left for the accident spot in a relief train from Howrah. Another team from North-East Frontier Railway is also expected to reach in the wee hours of Monday.
This is the third major incident of derailment in July. On July 10, the Kalka Mail was derailed near Malwan station near Allahabad.
{{/usCountry}}This is the third major incident of derailment in July. On July 10, the Kalka Mail was derailed near Malwan station near Allahabad.
{{/usCountry}}On the same day the Guwahati-Puri Express went off the rails in Assam following a blast on the railway tracks.
While more than 70 died in the Kalka Mail accident, more than 100 were injured in the second.