The incident happened on a railway bridge over Saryu river in the Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh state.

The train ran over a group of pilgrims who were walking on the tracks. Some of them died after jumping into the river.

The incident happened after a passenger train packed with Hindu pilgrims travelling from the city of Gonda to a local festival in Karnailganj town halted after some pilgrims pulled the emergency chain to collect water from the holy Saryu river.

The pilgrims got down from the train and were walking on the tracks when a train bound for the state capital, Lucknow, hurtled down the other track and ran over them.

Several pilgrims jumped into the swollen river and are feared drowned.

Rescue teams have recovered the bodies of 11 pilgrims so far.

Authorities say the death toll is likely to rise since more than 300 passengers and pilgrims were swarming the tracks after the incident, and many had jumped into the river to save lives without success.

Story copied from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/south_asia/6994292.stm

WHY DOES IT QUALIFY FOR DARWIN AWARDS?

- complete disregard for safety - never considered the possibility of train scheduling, where putting their train to a stop will endanger other trains using their train's track - never considered the possibility of a train using the other track while they are swarming over it - never considered an escape route if something bad happens - irresponsible use of emergency brake in the first place - general herd mentality without thinking first about safety

There was truly only one idiot, the one who pulled the emergency brake. The rest were less stupid, but still stupid enough to follow this person.

This is not meant to criticize religion or pilgrimages. There are plenty of other pilgrimages done in safer manners, even though tragedies do sometimes occur (like The Hajj). What these people did were very obviously stupid. All of them qualify for the Darwin Awards. I will be rooting for them to make it on for 2007 or 2008!

Submitted on 09/16/2007

Submitted by: Gabriel Chan
Reference: BBC News Friday, 14 September 2007, 04:31 GMT

Copyright © 2007 DarwinAwards.com

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
This certainly does sound like a mass Darwin to me. It's one thing to stop a train and get off on the side away from any other tracks. It's another thing entirely to walk along the other tracks that may very well (and in fact ARE) also in use. If this was a bus on the highway they probably would have stopped in the middle of the road and gotten out to wander around in the oncoming traffic. Thanks, Gabriel!

James said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
I will go along with Bruce here! Obviously, all were willing participants, hence no "bystanders". The emergency brake gag sends it over the top. Let's see if the readers agree!

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