(3 Aug 1999) Eng/Hindi/Nat

Rescue workers in India are still struggling to untangle twisted wreckage, a day after two trains collided, head on.

So far they've pulled out at least 226 bodies and they think more than 50 others may be inside three badly smashed train cars.

They're working amid the stench of rotting, charred flesh and the sobs of victims' families.

According to the authorities at least three railway signal operators fled the scene after the accident.

India's railway minister has announced he's resigning.

The Indian government says it's setting up a commission to investigate the causes of recent crashes.

Rescue workers pulled apart a mountain of twisted metal on Tuesday to get to dozens of people believed trapped inside the wreckage of two trains that collided head-on in India's northeast.

At least 257 bodies have been extracted.

At least 50 more people were thought to be inside three smashed train cars, but authorities feared that none could have survived.

Thousands of people watched as rescue workers cut through the blackened metallic hulk of the railroad cars.

The railway minister resigned Tuesday, saying India had not devoted enough money to upgrading its train service.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Why that point was not set properly, nobody has any convincing answer. Nobody has convinced me. I think it is a total failure of the railways. That is why I have accepted the responsibility."
SUPERCAPTION: Nitish Kumar, Minister for Railways

The Minister believes the accident was more about criminal negligence than human error.

SOUNDBITE: (Hindi)
"You cannot call it just a human error. It is criminal negligence, and I have owned up this responsibility and have given my resignation."
SUPERCAPTION: Nitish Kumar, Minister for Railways

Before his resignation the minister pointed out that the railway desperately need upgrading and there needs to be a greater emphasis on safety.

SOUNDBITE: (Hindi)
"Safety should be given the top-most priority. That's number one. And secondly, our railway system needs to be consolidated."
SUPERCAPTION: Nitish Kumar, Minister for Railways

The Minister said the railway system needed to be overhauled.

SOUNDBITE: (Hindi)
"The way the load is increasing, on the railway network, there is a drastic need for technological upgrading."
SUPERCAPTION: Nitish Kumar, Minister for Railways

India has the world's largest railway network under one management with more than 14,000 trains carrying 12 million people daily.

More than 400 accidents take place each year.

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