At least 37 people have been killed and dozens more injured after being struck by a train while crossing the tracks at a remote train station in eastern India.

The pedestrians were mostly Hindu pilgrims who had just stepped off a local train in the eastern state of Bihar when they were hit by an express train.

The death toll is expected to rise as many other people were badly injured.

A spokesman for Indian Railways said the train hit the people while they were crossing the tracks, despite there being a red signal.

Arunendra Kumar, chairman of the national railway board, told reporters in New Delhi that it appeared the pilgrims were not aware of the oncoming train.

"Two trains were already stationary on other tracks and the Rajya Rani Express was given permission to pass," he said.

"The accident occurred because some people left the platform of the station and came on the tracks.

"We have rushed emergency medical teams to help those injured in this accident."

Witnesses say an angry mob has gathered at the station and attacked the train involved in the accident.

According to reports, the train driver and a guard have been bashed and are being held hostage.

Local police in the Saharsa district say the mob set fire to several of the train's carriages and attacked a nearby train station.

"Six carriages have been set on fire and the station has been ransacked by the mob," local railway chief Arun Malik said.

"Our staff have fled the station fearing attacks."



India's state-owned railway network operates 9,000 passenger trains and carries up to 20 million passengers every day.

Fatalities on the railways are not uncommon in India - more than 1,000 people have been killed in accidents over the past five years.

ABC/AFP