Eight persons are feared dead while 50 reported injured when the four coaches of Diva-Savantwadi Express derailed at the entrance of a tunnel on Konkan Railway route in Raigarh district here at 9.30 am on Sunday.

The engine and four coaches of the train derailed – blocking traffic on the Goa-Mumbai route. Though there were reports of deaths, a Konkan Railway (KR) spokesman said that this was yet to be confirmed.

The wounded have been rushed to a local hospital while others are still being salvaged from the coaches that have derailed, the police sources informed the Media Eye News.

According to reports a part of train got stuck inside a tunnel. However, the railway sources rejected this. They contend, train had safely passed through the tunnel before it got derailed.

The villagers have come to the aid of passengers, with many providing transport, water and medical first-aid, sources said.