Two women passengers have been confirmed dead after a specially-chartered train carrying 37 British tourists to India derailed in the north of the country.
As many as 12 people are also reported to have been injured.
The train, put on specifically for the tourist group, was travelling to the Himalayan town of Shimla when it crashed at 12.58pm local time.
Two women passengers have been confirmed dead after this specially-chartered train carrying 37 British tourists to India derailed in the north of the country
According to reports from the scene, the narrow gauge train - a type used commonly in mountainous regions - came off the tracks near Kalka in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh, with the cause of the accident as yet unknown.
Dinesh Kumar, Divisional Railway Manager at Northern Railways told the Press Trust of India: 'The accident occurred when the train was about 3.5km away from Kalka.
'The accident site falls in [the state of] Himachal Pradesh.
'Preliminary reports received from the site said that two persons have died in the accident.'
The four-carriage train had been booked through a travel agent.
York-based travel company Great Rail journeys confirmed that one of its tour groups had been involved in the incident, but said that ‘very little’ was known.
The train, put on specifically for the tourist group, was travelling to the Himalayan town of Shimla when it crashed at 12.58pm local time
‘A number of people in the group have been hospitalised,’ it said in a statement, adding that its representatives were at the scene.
The company, which takes around 2,500 people to India annually, said it was sending three senior members of its team to the scene, along with a qualified counsellor.
The tour had left for the country on September 10 and was due to end on September 22.
It was rounding a curve when the coaches derailed, said Neeraj Sharma, a railway official.
Mr Kumar added: 'One full coach derailed while another derailed partially. A railway team has already reached the site.
There has yet to be confirmation on the seriousness of the conditions of the 12 passengers injured, or if the death toll is likely to rise
'The administration provided immediate relief to the injured and made arrangements for shifting them to hospital. The railways also provided ambulances and other necessary assistance.'
A police spokesman confirmed that at least two tourists were killed instantly.
I am sad to learn about the derailment of a train in Karnataka this morning, as a result of which some persons have lost their lives and others are injured.
India’s President Pranab Mukherjee
But the seriousness of the conditions of the up to 12 injured passengers has not yet been confirmed, nor has it been confirmed if the death toll is likely to rise.
Those injured are being treated in a hospital in the nearby city of Chandigarh.
Suresh Prabhu, India's railway minister, ordered an investigation into the accident.
India’s President Pranab Mukherjee has expressed his grief at the double loss of life in his country today, with the train derailment and the restaurant explosion in Madhya Pradesh.
‘I am sad to learn about the derailment of a train at Martur Railway Station near Kalaburagi city in Karnataka this morning, as a result of which some persons have lost their lives and others are injured.’
He added, in a another message to the Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala: ‘I understand rescue as well as relief operations are currently underway.’
The narrow gauge train, known commonly as 'a toy train,' is a tourist attraction in a Unesco world heritage site, and does a scenic route to the mountain resort town of Shimla
He called upon the state government and the railway authorities to provide all possible assistance to the families of the victims, and the best medical attention to the injured.
The narrow gauge train, known commonly as 'a toy train,' is a tourist attraction in a Unesco world heritage site, and does a scenic route to the mountain resort town of Shimla.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: 'Following a train crash in Haryana, we are urgently looking into reports of British nationals affected and stand ready to provide consular support.'
Earlier on Saturday, nine coaches of a train derailed in southern India, killing at least two people and leaving several injured.
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