Train derails in Orissa, 15 dead, over 100 hurt

At least 15 people were killed and 100 injured when more than a dozen coaches of a passenger express train derailed in Orissa, officials said yesterday.
u00a0
The accident occurred several hours after the train left Kolkata.

"At least 15 deaths are confirmed," J P Mishra, a senior Indian Railways official said. "We do not know what caused the accident as yet."

About 1,500 passengers were travelling to the southern city of Chennai when the Coromandel Express train partially derailed after dark near a remote station called Jajpur Road.

Manmohan Praharaj, the state police chief said more than 100 people were hurt and had been taken to hospitals for treatment.
u00a0
At least 16 coaches of the train derailed and overturned, he said. Authorities said they were deploying special trains to rescue stranded passengers.