Date 20 August 1995 Country India Operator Indian Railways | Location Firozabad Rail line Northern Railway Type of incident Collision | |
The Firozabad rail disaster occurred on 20 August 1995 near Firozabad on the Delhi-Kanpur section of India's Northern Railway, at 02:55 when a passenger train collided with a train which had stopped after hitting a cow, killing 358 people (although some sources estimate the deaths at more than 400). The accident happened in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh; both trains were bound for the Indian capital, Delhi. The first train, the "Kalindi Express" from Kanpur struck a cow but was unable to proceed as its brakes were damaged. It was then struck from behind at a speed of 70 Kmph by the Purushottam Express from Puri. Three carriages of the Kalindi express were destroyed, the engine and front two carriages of the Puri train were derailed. Most of the 2200 passengers aboard the two trains were asleep at the time of the accident.