AN express train crashed with a passenger train at a station in eastern India early today, killing 56 people.
Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee raised the possibility the crash could have been another case of sabotage, two months after Maoist rebels were blamed for a derailment that killed 145 people.
The crash happened about 2am when the Uttarbanga Express slammed into the Vananchal Express as it left the platform at Sainthia station, about 125 miles north of Calcutta.
The smash destroyed two passenger cars and a luggage car. The passenger cars were reserved for those on the cheapest tickets and such carriages are usually packed to capacity.
Rescuers recovered 56 bodies from the crash site and 125 other people were injured, said Surajit Kaur Purkayastha, a top police official.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here