At least 35 people, mostly women and children, were killed in Bihar this morning when an express train ploughed into pilgrims at a remote and poorly connected area in the state's Khagaria district, around 160 km from Patna.
The incident at around 9 am triggered mayhem as a violent mob reportedly assaulted the train driver, set coaches on fire and held railway staff hostage.
Those killed were mostly kanwarias or devotees of Lord Shiva, who were crossing the tracks at the Dhamara station in Katyani Sthan, a religious stopover.
The pilgrims had reportedly exited another train, when the Rajyarani Express train from Saharsa, travelling at a speed of 80 km/hour on its way to Patna, crushed them.
Seen here, smoke billowing from one of the coaches of the train.
