At least 20 dead after train catches fire in India

[August 01, 2008]  HYDERABAD, India (AP) -- Police say at least 20 people have died after a train caught fire in southern India.

Local police official V.C. Sajjanar said the train caught fire early Friday roughly 125 miles north of Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh.

Authorities rushed four injured people to a hospital. An investigation into the cause of the crash was begun.

Sajjanar said the fire appears to have been caused by a short circuit in the train's wiring. He said passengers pulled the chain to stop the train as soon as the fire broke out and passengers jumped out of the car.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.