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Rail travel in India is probably more popular than anywhere else. Indian has the world's largest single rail undertaking operating about 14,000 trains each day and an estimated 11 million passengers carried each day. However, travelling by train seems to be more dangerous than it is anywhere else. Around 300 accidents are recorded each year many of which are blamed on outdated equipment and human error. The frequent inquiries make innumerable recommendations but due to a lack of finance these are often only partially implemented, if at all.

In the latest incident, over 200 people were killed on 27 November when the Seldah Express was in collision with a number of carriages of the Frontier Golden Mail which had become derailed. These straddled the opposite running line and despite the efforts of one railwayman to warn the oncoming train, it was too close to the derailment site to stop in time. At present, the reason for the initial derailment of the "Mail" is unclear. But, once it had occurred, there was no safety system which, given the proximity of the approaching express, could have prevented the collision.

This was the worst accident in India since 1985 when the Puroshottam Express ran into the back of the Kalindi Express. More than 300 people died and a further 220 were injured. A Time Magazine account is available on-line at -

 

 

India's worst-ever railway disaster occurred in 1981 in Bihar state when over 500 people were killed.

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