India - 19 Killed in train collision with a bus

Remains of the bus at Karur Pic: The Hindu

All the casualties were passengers on the State Transport bus from Madurai to Salem. It was carrying 44 people. Few people on the train were aware of the incident.

Survivors reported that bus had accelerated as the gates of the crossing were about to be closed. The Chennai-Madurai Express was approaching at speed, and the bus rammed the locomotive. The bus disintegrated in the impact and a portion of it was carried some 100 meters down the track before falling into a field. The bus driver and the conductor were amongst those killed.

A public inquiry into the incident is to be launched on Monday August 17th.