AP: Death toll in train collision rises to 24

Tuesday, May 22, 2012: 24 people were killed, at least 16 of them charred to death, and over 40 others injured when the driver of the Bangalore-bound Hampi Express apparently overshot the signal and rammed into the rear of a stationary goods train in Anantapur district in the wee hours today.
The impact of the collision that took place at 3:15 AM at Penukonda Railway Station in Andhra Pradesh was such that four bogies of the express train derailed and one of them caught fire.
“At least 16 persons were charred to death, mostly women passengers, when one of the bogies caught fire after the express train collided with the stationary goods trains” Charu Sinha, Deputy Inspector General of police (Anantapur range), said.
Twenty-four passengers have died and the injured have been admitted to nearby hospitals at Penukonda, Hindupur and Anantapur, she said.
The DIG said the rescue and relief operations are in full swing and most of the fire services of the district have been deployed at the accident site.
Most of the victims were labourers coming from Hubli and Hospet in Karnataka and were on their way to Bangalore.
“Prima facie it seems that the driver of Hampi Express overshot the signal,” Railway Spokesperson Anil Saxena said in Delhi.