At least 37 people have died after being hit by an express train while crossing the tracks at a remote train station in the Indian state of Bihar.
The passengers, mostly Hindu pilgrims, had just alighted from a local train at Dhamara Ghat station and were on their way to a temple in Saharsa district.
The victims, mostly kanwarias (devotees of Lord Shiva), were standing on the railway tracks at the station when the Rajrani Express hit them at the station under Samastipur division of East Central Railway.
They were run over by the Rajya Rani Express which was travelling on the opposite track, reports said.
The toll is likely to go up as several others are reported to be injured.
Senior railway official Arun Mallik, has confirmed that at least 15 people had died and that rescue operations were under way.
An angry mob has gathered at the station and attacked the Rajya Rani Express and set fire to several carriages, reports said.
According to reports, the train driver and its guard have been beaten and held hostage.
Last year, railway officials said train accidents in India had killed 1,220 people over the past five years.
Source: Newsfirst
