>SdkbBot at 22:47, 28 June 2021

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In [[Bihar]] on June 6, 1981, a passenger train carrying more than 800 passengers<ref name="spig"/> between [[Mansi, India|Mansi]] [[(Dhamara Pul)]] and [[Saharsa]], [[India]] derailed and plunged into the river [[Bagmati]] while it was crossing a bridge.

After five days, more than 200 bodies were recovered, with hundreds more missing that were feared washed away by the river.<ref name="spig"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/09/world/around-the-world-toll-from-train-crash-reaches-215-in-india.html|title=AROUND THE WORLD; Toll From Train Crash Reaches 215 in India|last=REUTERS|date=June 9, 1981|work=New York Times|accessdate=6 June 2010}}</ref> Estimates of total deaths range from 500 to 800 or more.<ref name="spig">{{cite book|last=Spignesi|first=Stephen J. |title=Catastrophe!: the 100 greatest disasters of all time|year=2004|publisher=Citadel Press|page=182}}</ref> By the afternoon of June 12, the government had completed its recovery efforts and had issued an official death toll of 235 passengers (including the bodies of 3 passengers which had not been recovered), with 88 survivors.<ref>{{cite web|title=Diving Operations to Extricate Dead Bodies Completed - Samastipur Rail Disaster|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1981-JAN-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1981-06-12_202.pdf|website=Press Information Bureau of India - Archive|date=12 June 1981|accessdate=6 February 2020}}</ref>

The accident is among the [[List of accidents and disasters by death toll#Rail accidents and disasters|deadliest-ever rail accidents]] on record.

The cause of the accident is uncertain as the accident was not well documented. There are multiple theories:

* a [[cyclone]]<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3502075.stm BBC, ''Iran mourns train blast victims''] See sidebar at bottom of page</ref>
* [[flash flood]]ing <ref>{{Dead link|date=June 2010}}[http://www.cbsnews.com/elements/2004/04/22/in_depth_world/timeline613204_0_main.shtml CBS] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050912133057/http://www.cbsnews.com/elements/2004/04/22/in_depth_world/timeline613204_0_main.shtml |date=2005-09-12 }}</ref>
* brake failure while trying to avoid hitting a cow <ref>[http://www.disaster-management.net/train_acc_india.htm Emergency Disaster Management, Inc., ''Train Wrecks in India''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311034001/http://www.disaster-management.net/train_acc_india.htm |date=2007-03-11 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Lists of rail accidents]]

==References==
<references/>

== External links ==
* [https://www.britannica.com/event/Bihar-train-disaster Encyclopædia Britannica: Bihar train disaster]

{{1981 railway accidents}}

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[[Category:Derailments in India]]
[[Category:Railway accidents in 1981]]
[[Category:1981 in India]]
[[Category:Disasters in Bihar]]
[[Category:History of Bihar (1947–present)]]
[[Category:June 1981 events in Asia]]
[[Category:Railway accidents and incidents in Bihar]]

Bihar train derailment - Revision history

>SdkbBot at 22:47, 28 June 2021