Train blast kills 5 in India

KOLKATA (India)—At least five people were killed and 70 wounded when a powerful explosion believed to have been caused by a bomb ripped through a train in eastern India, police said.
The blast hit two crowded coaches near a remote railway station in West Bengal state, about 665 km (415 miles) north of state capital Kolkata, Raj Kanojia, a top police officer, told Reuters. “It seems to be a powerful bomb and the casualties could mount in the next few hours,” Kanojia said. The blast took place around 6.10 p.m. (1240 GMT) when the train stopped at Belakoba station on its way to the tourist town of New Jalpaiguri. Police and emergency workers were rushed to the area and hundreds of panic-stricken passengers were being evacuated.
“Some of the injuries are quite serious,” Suresh Bhowmik, head of Jalpaiguri’s district hospital, said by phone. “We are calling for reinforcements.” Rescuers were evacuating the injured in the dark and television pictures showed local villagers giving them a hand. Dozens of injured passengers were crying for help when police reached the train, witnesses said.—Agencies