Crane Collapse Derails Passenger Train in Thailand, 22 Killed

New Delhi — At least 22 people were killed and more than 55 injured on Wednesday after a construction crane collapsed onto a passenger train travelling from Bangkok to Thailand’s northeastern region, causing multiple coaches to derail, Thai police officials said.

The accident occurred at around 9:05 am in the Sikhio district of Nakhon Ratchasima province, approximately 230 km northeast of the capital. The train was on its way to Ubon Ratchathani when the incident took place.

According to preliminary reports, the crane was operating at a construction site linked to a high-speed rail project running parallel to the existing railway line. As the train passed through the area, the crane reportedly lost balance and toppled onto one of the moving coaches. The impact led to the derailment of several carriages, with parts of the train briefly catching fire.

Videos shared on social media showed severe damage to the train, as rescue teams worked to cut through mangled metal to reach passengers trapped inside. Firefighters, medical personnel and disaster response units were swiftly deployed to carry out rescue and relief operations.

Thailand’s government public relations department confirmed the incident on social media platform X, stating that multiple rescue teams were sent to the site immediately and that several passengers were trapped inside the derailed coaches.

Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said he has directed authorities to conduct a transparent and thorough investigation into the accident to determine the cause and prevent similar incidents in the future.

The Transport Minister also said that around 195 passengers were on board the train at the time of the accident. Efforts are underway to identify the victims and provide medical care to the injured, some of whom remain in critical condition.

The collapsed crane was part of a high-speed rail project valued at approximately $5.4 billion.

Thailand has seen multiple industrial and construction-related accidents in recent years, often sparking concerns over safety standards. Following Wednesday’s tragedy, authorities have ordered a detailed probe to establish responsibility and ensure accountability.

With inputs from IANS