Bihar train derailment

Bihar train derailment
Map
Location of the derailment
Details
Date6 June 1981 (1981-06-06)
LocationBagmati River, Badlaghat (near Khagaria), Bihar
CountryIndia
Incident typeDerailment
CauseUnknown, likely a cyclone
Statistics
Trains1
Deaths
  • 235 (official)
  • >500 (estimate)

In the Indian state of Bihar, on June 6, 1981, a passenger train carrying more than 800 passengers[1] between Mansi (Dhamara Pul) and Saharsa, derailed while crossing a bridge and plunged into the river Bagmati.

After five days, more than 200 bodies were recovered, with hundreds more missing that were feared washed away by the river.[1][2] Estimates of total deaths range from 500 to 800 or more.[1] By the afternoon of June 12, the government had completed its recovery efforts and had issued an official death toll of 235 passengers, with 88 survivors. The death toll included three people whose bodies were not recovered.[3]

The crash is the deadliest-ever rail accident in India.[4]

Cause

The cause of the crash is uncertain and the events were not well documented. Theories as to the cause of the crash include a cyclone,[5] flash flooding[6] and brake failure.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Spignesi, Stephen J. (2004). Catastrophe!: the 100 greatest disasters of all time. Citadel Press. p. 182. ISBN 9780806525587.
  2. ^ "AROUND THE WORLD; Toll From Train Crash Reaches 215 in India". New York Times. 9 June 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Diving Operations to Extricate Dead Bodies Completed – Samastipur Rail Disaster" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India – Archive. 12 June 1981. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  4. ^ "1981 Bihar to 2023 Balasore train accident in Odisha, here are India's deadliest rail accidents". The Economic Times. 5 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Iran mourns blast victims". BBC. 19 February 2004.
  6. ^ "Train Disasters". CBS News. 12 September 2005. Archived from the original on 12 September 2005. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  7. ^ "Train Wrecks in India". Emergency Disaster Management, Inc. 11 March 2007. Archived from the original on 11 March 2007. Retrieved 25 March 2023.

25°34′20″N 86°35′25″E / 25.57222°N 86.59028°E / 25.57222; 86.59028