10 killed, 55 hurt in train mishap in western India.

NEW DELHI, Jan. 3 Kyodo

At least 10 people were killed and 55 others injured early Friday when their train derailed after ramming into a stationary freight train at a railway station in southern India, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.

The train coming from Secundrabad in Andhra Pradesh state was bound for Manmad in Maharashtra state when it collided with a stationery freight train at Ghatnandur railway station in Maharashtra near the border between the two states.

The train driver applied the emergency brakes after spotting the tail lamp of the freight train, averting a major disaster though three of the coaches jumped the tracks despite his alertness.

Railway Minister Nitish Kumar acknowledged his ministry's responsibility for the accident since it was caused by human error and pledged that firm action would be taken against signaling staff, who have absconded since the incident.

The PTI report said the accident was caused by a signaling error that led the passenger train to take the wrong track that was being used by the freight train.

Most passengers were asleep when the mishap occurred. Rescue operations were under way to remove trapped passengers from the derailed coaches while the injured have been admitted to nearby local hospitals.