At least 16 killed in Indian train derailment, 161 injured

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(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-14 14:10

NEW DELHI -- A massive rescue operation is under way in eastern India's Orissa state Saturday after at least 16 people were killed and 161 injured in a train derailment Friday evening.

Indian Railways General Manager (east) AK Goel told the media that 13 coaches of south Indian state of Chennai-bound Coromondel Express, which was coming from east Indian city of Kolkata and running at a high speed, derailed in Orissa's Jajpur district with its engine overturning.

Rescue teams were pressed into service within minutes of the accident and operations are still going on a war footing, another official said, adding the death toll could rise since many passengers were still trapped in the overturned coaches.

Meanwhile, Indian Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav has ordered a high-level probe into the incident and announced a compensation of 500,000 rupees (about $10,000) and a job to families of those killed, and 50,000 ($1,000) for the injured.

The mishap took place at 20:00 local time (1430 GMT) when 14 of the 27 coaches of the super-fast express train with 1,500 passengers were derailed.

The cause of the accident is yet to be determined by authorities.

India has the longest railway after Russia and China. But its train accident rate is also the highest in the world.

While making a record $14 billion profit last year, the state-run railway system is also suffering from bad service, overcrowdedness and frequent delays, according to local newspaper reports.