The accident occurred around 1:30 am at Ghatnandur station in Beed district, 300 km from Hyderabad, and preliminary reports indicated that Secunderabad-Manmad express's driver applied emergency brakes to avoid collision with the rear of the goods train standing on the same track and as a result its three coaches got derailed, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.

Two grievously injured children were airlifted and admitted to Nizam institute of medical sciences in Secunderabad while 39 were being treated at a local hospital near the accident site.

Indian Railway Minister Nitish Kumar admitted here that the accident was because of a "human failure" and warned of stern action against the erring officials. He said the assistant stationmaster and a "pointman" were absconding after the accident.

The Commissioner of Railway Safety, South Central Railway, has reached the accident site and would commence inquiry from Sunday. Regular traffic on the affected rail section is expected to be restored Friday night, the PTI quoted the railway sources as saying.

The fate of the driver of the express train was not known immediately.

(Xinhua News Agency January 4, 2003)