Bihar train derailment

{{Short description|Indian train accident near badlaghat}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}

{{Infobox public transit accident

| name = Bihar train derailment

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| image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|frame-align=center|type=point|zoom=9|text=Location of the derailment}}

| date = {{Start date|1981|06|06|df=y}}

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| location = Bagmati River, Badlaghat (near Khagaria), Bihar

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| country = India

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| type = Derailment

| cause = Unknown, likely a cyclone

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| trains = 1

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| deaths = {{ubl|235 (official)|>500 (estimate)}}

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In the Indian state of Bihar, on June 6, 1981, a passenger train carrying more than 800 passengers between Mansi (Dhamara Pul) 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.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/09/world/around-the-world-toll-from-train-crash-reaches-215-in-india.html |title=AROUND THE WORLD; Toll From Train Crash Reaches 215 in India |date=June 9, 2024 |work=New York Times |access-date=2023-03-25}} Estimates of total deaths range from 500 to 800 or more.{{cite book |last=Spignesi |first=Stephen J. |title=Catastrophe!: the 100 greatest disasters of all time |year=2004 |publisher=Citadel Press |page=182 |isbn=9780806525587}} 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.{{cite web |title=Diving Operations to Extricate Dead Bodies Completed – Samastipur Rail Disaster |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1981-JAN-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1981-06-12_202.pdf |website=Press Information Bureau of India – Archive |date=12 June 1981 |access-date=2023-03-25}}

The crash is the deadliest-ever rail accident in India.{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/how-to/1991-bihar-to-2023-balasore-train-accident-in-odisha-here-are-indias-deadliest-rail-accidents/articleshow/100718662.cms|title=1981 Bihar to 2023 Balasore train accident in Odisha, here are India's deadliest rail accidents|newspaper=The Economic Times |date=5 June 2024 }}