Bhopal: At least 15 people were killed and more than 50 injured when a goods train collided head-on with a stationary passenger train at Badarwas railway station in Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri district in the wee hours today amid heavy rains.
The accident took place at the Badarbas railway station, 50 km from Guna, where the intercity Indore-Gwalior-Bhind Express was awaiting signal.
Shivpuri collector Rajkumar Pathak has confirmed the toll and said more bodies are feared to be trapped inside mangled coaches of Indore-Gwalior Intercity Express. It seems the goods train driver overshot the signal and hit the Indore-Gwalior Inter-City Express standing at the station, he said. Two bogies of the passenger train were damaged when the goods train hit it from the front.
The injured have been taken to hospitals in Guna and Shivpuri, he said.
Giving details about the accident, Pathak said, "It is a matter of inquiry how the accident took place but we can say that the Intercity was already standing at the station when the goods train came from the front site and hit it".
Superintendent of Police, Shivpuri, Rajendra Prasad said six bodies had been taken out from the two general bogies of the express that was hit by the goods train. The SP said that the two bogies that were hit by the goods train were general compartments.
Railway officials said the collision took place around 4:45 AM when it was raining heavily. Heavy rainfall in the area is hampering rescue operations. Relief trains from Guna, Bina, Kota and Jhansi have been sent to the accident spot.
Relatives of railway passengers can call the railway helpline 1072 for more details.