Indian media reports train collision after blast in eastern India; heavy casualties feared

Indian media: deaths feared after train blast

CALCUTTA, India — An overnight passenger train was derailed by an explosion then hit by another train early Friday as it traveled through a rebel stronghold of eastern India, a railway official said. Heavy casualties were feared.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said 13 passenger cars on a train out of Calcutta were derailed by the explosion, in a rural area about 90 miles (150 kilometers) south of the city. At least some of those coaches were then hit by a cargo train coming from the other direction.

He had few other details. Indian media reports said heavy casualties were feared.

The blast occurred in a stronghold of India’s Maoist rebels, known as Naxalites, who have stepped up their attacks in recent months.

The passenger train was heading to the Indian city of Kurla.

(This version CORRECTS UPDATES to change attribution; CLARIFIES that not clear how many passenger coaches were hit by other train; corrects that train was going to Kurla sted Mumbai; ADDS other details.)