From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In the Bihar train disaster on June 6, 1981, a passenger train travelling between Mansi and Saharsa, India, derailed while it was crossing a bridge spanning the Bagmati river and plunged into the river. The government places the official death toll at 268 plus another 300 missing. 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])

See also

• List of rail accidents (1950–1999)