CHENNAI, India, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- A passenger train collided with a stationary train in India's southern Tamil Nadu state, killing at least 9 people and injuring scores more, authorities said.
The Hindustan Times reported the crash occurred Tuesday night near the Arakkonam junction, a major rail junction 45 miles from Chennai, capital of Tamil Nadu. The report said the crash killed 10 people and injured 50 but The Press Trust of India reported nine people died and 100 were injured.
Some of the injured, who had been taken to local hospitals, were seriously hurt, the Hindustan Times reported. Rescue efforts initially were hampered by rains and darkness.
Rail authorities said the passenger train rammed into the other train, which was waiting for a clearance signal. The report said five cars of the two trains derailed and rescuers had to cut into some of them to save those trapped inside.
The PTI report said investigators suspect the engineer of the passenger train may have ignored the signal and the speed limit.
It was the second major train disaster in India in the past two months. A passenger train derailed in India's northern Uttar Pradesh in July, resulting in the deaths of 63 passengers.
