KOLKATA, India, May 28 (UPI) -- Track sabotage has been blamed for the collision of two trains in eastern India that killed more than 60 people and injured scores of others.
Indian rail officials said a section of track had been removed, causing a passenger train en route from Kolkata to Mumbai to derail and cross the path of a cargo-laden train about 110 miles west of Kolkata.
About half of the 24 cars of the passenger train left the rails about 1:30 a.m. Friday with five landing in the path of the freight train. More than 12 hours later, emergency crews were cutting apart the wrecked cars trying to reach people still trapped.
Maoist rebels claimed responsibility. Officials said a 1.5-foot section of track had been removed, causing the wreck. Since it was night, train operators were unable to see the track damage before the wreck.
The rebels had called for a "black week" to begin Friday in the area. Maoists were also blamed for a May 17 attack on a bus in which 36 people were killed in Chhattisgarh.
