Death toll in train collision in eastern India rises to 3

The death toll in the train collision Sunday evening in the eastern Indian state West Bengal has risen to three while 50 others were injured, said railway officials on Monday. The number of casualties is likely to rise as two coaches are said to have landed in a pond after the collision at Bakharpur, about 10 km from the state's Malda district. The mishap happened when the Azimganj-Malda passenger train hit the engine of the Guwahati-Bangalore Express which had derailed earlier between Malda and Jamirghata stations. While one was killed on the spot, two others succumbed to their injuries later while the injured have been admitted to a local hospital where the condition of some are said to be serious. "Whatever is the position, we will try such accidents do not happen again. An inquiry has been ordered and no none found responsible will be spared. Accountability and responsibility will be fixed," Indian Railways Minister Dinesh Trivedi told the media. Train mishaps are common in India which has one of the largest railway networks in the world. The accident occurred around 7:00 p.m. when the engine and two parcel vans, one luggage van and three sleeper class coaches of the Guwahati-Bangalore Express derailed and fell on the adjacent track. Only the engine was hit by the Azimganj-Malda Town passenger train coming from the opposite direction. The accident took place weeks after two trains derailed in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh and eastern state of Assam. More than 60 people were killed and hundreds more injured in the accidents.