6 killed, 11 injured in train crash in southern India

6 killed in train crash in southern India

NEW DELHI — Two men seized the controls of a passenger train in southern India and rammed it into another train Wednesday, killing themselves and four passengers, news reports said.

Another 11 people were injured when the men, who were not authorized to operate the electric train, drove it into a goods train at Vyasarpadi Jeeva station on the outskirts of Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu state, Press Trust of India news agency reported, quoting railway officials.

They drove the train for about 4 1/2 miles (7 kilometers) before the collision took place, PTI said.

The four passengers killed were among those who boarded the electric train at the Moore Market station, mistaking it for a suburban commuter train, the agency reported. Those injured were standing on the platform at Vyasarpadi Jeeva.

It was not clear if the men worked for Indian Railways.

“We don’t have information as to who operated the train but it is clear that somebody well-versed with the railways and its operations drove it,” railway official M.S. Jayanth told PTI.

No other details were immediately available.

The railway ministry has ordered an inquiry.