Penukonda (AP), May 22: At least 25 passengers were killed, 16 of them charred, and 43 injured when the Bangalore- bound Hampi  Express rammed into a stationary goods train after its driver apparently overshot the signal near the station here in the wee hours today.
 The impact of the collision that took place at 3:15 AM was such that four bogies of the express train derailed and one of them caught fire near Penukonda station in Andhra Pradesh coming under Bangalore division of South Western Railway.
 Shocked survivors said it was an unbearable and gory sight to see fellow passengers burning and screaming for help as they stood helpless due to the searing heat. The cries of burning passengers still rang in their ears, they said on arrival in Bangalore, about 150 km from here. 
 Most of the victims were labourers coming from Hubli and Hospet in Karnataka and were on their way to Bangalore.
 "As of now, 25 people have died and 43 people are injured in the train tragedy. The injured have been shifted to different hospitals across Anantpur district," Railway Minister Mukul Roy, who rushed to the accident site, told reporters.
 "Prima facie it seems that the driver of Hampi Express overshot the signal," Railway Spokesperson Anil Saxena said in Delhi. Deputy Inspector General of police (Anantapur range) Charu Sinha said the injured have been admitted to nearby hospitals at Penukonda, Hindupur and Anantapur.

25 PILGRIMS KILLED IN DEHRA DUN
 At least 25 pilgrims from Madhya Pradesh were today killed and 17 injured when a bus carrying them fell into the Ganges river at Kodiyala near Byasi in Tehri District, police said.
 The mishap occurred this afternoon when the private tourist bus, carrying 45 passengers, was going to Rishikesh from Badrinath and fell into the river while trying to overtake a truck, said Tehri Superintendent of Police Janmejaya Khanduri.
 While 21 people died on the spot, four succumbed to their injuries on way to hospital, he said.
 All the bodies have been fished out during a rescue operation that lasted for more than four hours, he said.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 22 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 22 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 23 May 2012 00:00:00 IST