43 killed, 32 hurt as train hits bus

BAHRAICH (UP), April 27 (PTI) — At least 43 persons were killed and many injured when the Awadh-Assam Express train rammed into a bus carrying a marriage party at an unmanned level crossing in eastern Uttar Pradesh tonight, the police said.

It was not known immediately if all victims were travelling in the bus which was hit by the speeding train at a place between Khagraghat and Jharwal road stations in Bahraich district at 8.21 pm it said here.

At least 32 injured, many of them passengers in the bus which was going to Rithaura village from Barabanki, have been admitted to different hospitals at Barabanki and Bahraich, and the condition of many of them was stated to be serious, the police said.

Earlier, official sources had said at least 50 persons were injured in the accident that occurred 80 km from Lucknow.

The police said 43 bodies had so far been recovered and relief and rescue operations were continuing.

Operations to clear the track of the mangled bus were on and traffic on the Gorakhpur-Lucknow section was expected to be restored soon, the official sources said.

Pitch darkness hampered the relief and rescue operation, the police said.

Senior railway officials have rushed to the spot to supervise relief and rescue operations.

Railway traffic was badly affected on the section with several long-distance trains being stopped at different stations.