At least 35 died when Hindu pilgrims were run over Monday by a speeding train while they were moving across the railway tracks in a small village in the eastern part of India. Around 40 more were injured on the spot.

The accident happened at Dhamara near Saharsa situated in the state of Bihar in India. A furious mob attacked the train, which left the train driver critically injured. The train, which is called the Rajya Rani Express, was set on fire.

According to railway officials, the train was moving through its usual route. The train was not supposed to stop at Dhamara which is a 3-track station. The train started from Saharsa and it was moving to Patna. It was not likely for the train to stop at the station as 2 more trains were there already. The railway officials do not believe it was the fault of the driver as he was not supposed to drive a super-fast train by stopping it at a small station like Dhamara.

The pilgrims were apparently moving to a local fair held in the village. The railway officials were not permitted by the angry mob to enter the spot of the accident. The infuriated mob then did not even allow the firefighters to enter the spot. The mob fury forced a couple of relief trains to stop on the way to the spot. It was only after the armed forces had secured the location when one of the relief trains arrived from Saharsa.

There have been a number of major rail accidents in India in recent times.

April 10, 2013

The Muzaffarpur-Yesvantpur Express derailed on April 10, 2013, and hit the traffic on the Arakkonam sector. Two got killed while 50 were injured in the accident, according to the railway sources. Nine coaches were derailed at around 5:50 am. There were severe disruptions in the railway traffic due to the accident.

February 22, 2013

Another derailment took place on February 22, 2013, when Nizamuddin Ernakulum Mangala Lakshadweep Superfast Express derailed in the Panvel-Roha section.