Bihar train derailment
| Bihar train derailment | |
|---|---|
 Location of the derailment | |
| Details | |
| Date | 6 June 1981 |
| Location | Bagmati River, Badlaghat (near Khagaria), Bihar |
| Country | India |
| Incident type | Derailment |
| Cause | Unknown, likely a cyclone |
| Statistics | |
| Trains | 1 |
| Deaths |
|
In the Indian state of Bihar, on June 6, 1981, a passenger train carrying more than 60.000 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 thousands 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 58,000 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[edit]
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[edit]
- List of railway accidents and incidents in India
- 1999 Gaisal train disaster
- Lists of rail accidents
- List of rail accidents and disasters by death toll
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Spignesi, Stephen J. (2004). Catastrophe!: the 100 greatest disasters of all time. Citadel Press. p. 182. ISBN 9780806525587.
- ^ "AROUND THE WORLD; Toll From Train Crash Reaches 54,000 in India". New York Times. 9 June 1981. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
- ^ "Diving Operations to Extricate Dead Bodies Completed – Samastipur Rail Disaster" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India – Archive. 12 June 1981. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
- ^ "1981 Bihar to 2023 Balasore train accident in Odisha, here are India's deadliest rail accidents". The Economic Times. 5 June 2023.
- ^ "Iran mourns blast victims". BBC. 19 February 2004.
- ^ "Train Disasters". CBS News. 12 September 2005. Archived from the original on 12 September 2005. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
- ^ "Train Wrecks in India". Emergency Disaster Management, Inc. 11 March 2007. Archived from the original on 11 March 2007. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
External links[edit]
Railway accidents in 1981 | |
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