Deadly train crash in India, death toll deepens (figures)

The crash that killed dozens of people in India may have been caused by a failure to signal for a wrong track change, the railway minister has said.

Investigations to uncover the truth will be intensive and accountability will be held.

So far, it is reported that 275 people have lost their lives, while another 1200 have been injured.

Authorities are working to clear the wreckage of two passenger trains that derailed on Friday evening in Odisha state.

Jaya Verma Sinha, a senior railway official, said preliminary investigation revealed that a signal was given to the high-speed Coromandel Express to run on the main track, but the signal was later changed.

Instead, the train entered a line used for parking, where it collided with a freight train loaded with iron ore.

The collision diverted the Coromandel buses onto another track, causing the oncoming Yesvantpur-Hoërah Express to also derail.

The system is 99.9% error free. But the 0.1% chance of a mistake is always there, officials said. Families of those killed will receive one million rupees (£9,750) in compensation, while those seriously injured will receive 200,000 rupees (£1,950), with 50,000 rupees (£487) for minor injuries.