Bihar train derailment


In the Indian state of Bihar, on June 6, 1981, a passenger train carrying more than 800 passengers between Mansi and Saharsa, derailed while crossing a bridge and plunged into the river Bagmati.
After five days, more than 200 bodies were recovered, with hundreds more missing that were feared washed away by the river. Estimates of total deaths range from 500 to 800 or more. By the afternoon of June 12, the government had completed its recovery efforts and had issued an official death toll of 235 passengers, with 88 survivors. The death toll included three people whose bodies were not recovered.
The crash is the List of [railway accidents and incidents in India|deadliest-ever rail accident] in India.

Cause

The cause of the crash is uncertain and the events were not well documented. Theories as to the cause of the crash include a cyclone, flash flooding and brake failure.