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Dozens Dead As Trains Derail On Flooded Tracks

At least 24 people have died after two passenger trains derailed in India, with carriages plunging from a bridge into a river.

About 300 passengers have been rescued by divers using gas cutters, officials have confirmed, and 100 people are injured.

One of the trains, the Kamayani Express, was coming from Mumbai, while the Janata Express was travelling in the opposite direction.

The trains derailed while crossing a bridge in Madhya Pradesh state just before midnight local time, the railway ministry said.

Some carriages reportedly fell into the river below.

According to a former railway minister, the accident could have been avoided if the tracks had been properly maintained.

Last year, 25,000 people died in train crashes on the country's outdated and overloaded railway network - prompting the Prime Minister to massively increase spending on improvements.

However, it could be years before the benefits of the modernisation works are felt.

A relief train carrying medical personnel and railway staff was on the way to the accident site, said an official.

"Rushing emergency medical and other relief personnel to spot. darkness, water creating hurdles but ordered all possible help. Trying our best," Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu tweeted on Tuesday.

A railway spokesperson told local media that there was water on the tracks and the bridge was "submerged" at the time of the accident.

Railway official Anil Saksena said there had been flash floods in the region and the tracks had collapsed.

Saksena said at least two coaches had been partially submerged in a river.

While most people had been pulled to safety, rescue workers were still searching for trapped passengers.