Firozabad rail disaster facts for kids

The Firozabad rail disaster was a very serious train accident in India. It happened on August 20, 1995, near the city of Firozabad in Uttar Pradesh, India. This event is known as the second-worst train accident in India's history, after the Bihar train derailment.

What Happened: The Train Accident

The accident took place very early in the morning, around 2:55 AM. Two passenger trains were involved. One train was the Kalindi Express, which was coming from Kanpur Railway Station. The other was the Purushottam Express, traveling from Puri.

First, the Kalindi Express hit a cow on the tracks. This caused damage to its brakes, and the train could not move forward. It was stuck on the railway line.

Soon after, the Purushottam Express came along the same track. It was traveling at a speed of about 70 kilometers per hour (about 43 miles per hour). The Purushottam Express then crashed into the back of the stopped Kalindi Express.

The collision was very powerful. The last three train cars of the Kalindi Express were badly damaged. Also, two cars and the engine of the Purushottam Express were destroyed. Sadly, about 358 passengers lost their lives in this tragic accident.