39 die in suspected terror attack on Russian train

I / Moscow November 28, 2009, 14:03 IST

An express Russian train carrying hundreds of passengers from Moscow to St Petersburg derailed by a blast under the tracks killing at least 39 people and injuring 95 others.

Three bogies of the Neva Express went off the tracks near the town of Bologoye on the border between Tver and Novgorod regions, and a terror attack is not ruled out.

"The accident took place in the dense forest, where mobile communication is weak. So far the evidence points to an explosion," President of the Russian Railways Vladimir Yakunin told reporters.

The luxury train is popular with business executives and government officials and the Emergency Situations minister Sergei Shoigu said 39 people were dead as the last three bogies of the train derailed.

While, 25 bodies were found inside the train, 14 others were flung outside.

Health Minister Tatiana Golikova said 95 people were being treated in hospitals in Tver and Novgorod regions.

There were 661 passengers and 21 railway staff on the train.