Bihar train disaster
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On June 6, 1981, a passenger train travelling between Mansi and Saharsa, India, derailed while it was crossing a bridge that was spanning the Bagmati river and plunged into the river. The government places the official death toll at 268 plus another 300 missing.[citation needed] But some estimates put the death toll as high as 800
The cause of the accident is uncertain as there are multiple causes listed online:
- a cyclone (according to a reference on the BBC website - see sidebar at bottom of page)
- flash flooding (according to [1])
- brake failure while trying to avoid hitting a water buffalo ([2])