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Friday, 14 September 2007, 04:31 GMT 05:31 UK

India train runs over 11 pilgrims

Uttar Pradesh map At least 11 people have been killed after a passenger train ran over them in northern India, police say.

The incident happened on a railway bridge over Saryu river in the Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh state.

The train ran over a group of pilgrims who were walking on the tracks. Some of them died after jumping into the river.

India's state-run railways carry more than 13m passengers a day. India has one of the world's largest rail networks but also a poor safety record.

The incident happened after a passenger train packed with Hindu pilgrims travelling from the city of Gonda to a local festival in Karnailganj town halted after some pilgrims pulled the emergency chain to collect water from the holy Saryu river.

The pilgrims got down from the train and were walking on the tracks when a train bound for the state capital, Lucknow, hurtled down the other track and ran over them.

Notorious record

Several pilgrims jumped into the swollen river and are feared drowned.

Rescue teams have recovered the bodies of 11 pilgrims so far.

Authorities say the death toll is likely to rise since more than 300 passengers and pilgrims were swarming the tracks after the incident, and many had jumped into the river to save lives without success.

Senior police official Sanjay Tarade told the BBC that rescue operations were continuing with divers and motor boats in the river.

India has a notorious record in railway safety - about 300 rail accidents are reported every year, resulting in a high number of casualties.

Passengers also routinely stop slow moving passenger trains in many parts of the country to alight paying little heed to their safety.




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Related to this story:
Hi-tech solutions for India's train crashes (04 Sep 03 |  South Asia )
India's antiquated railways (29 Oct 05 |  South Asia )

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