Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress at the Capitol in Washington, DC on June 8, 2016. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

People gather at the spot as rescue works continue at the site of an accident where coaches of a Patna-Indore Express train derailed off the tracks, near Pukhrayan area, in Kanpur, India, on Nov. 20, 2016. Photo by Ritesh Shukla/EPA

Rescue works continue at the site of an accident where 14 coaches of a Patna-Indore Express train derailed off the tracks, near Pukhrayan area, in Kanpur, India, Nov. 20, 2016. According to reports, at least 100 people were killed. Photo by Ritesh Shukla/EPA

KANPUR, India, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- More than 100 people were killed and 40 seriously injured Sunday morning when 14 cars on a Patna-Indore Express train derailed near India's northern city of Kanpur, officials said.

The BBC called the tragedy India's worst train crash in six years.


The number of casualties could rise as search and rescue efforts continue, Railways Ministry representative Anil Saxena told CNN.

The BBC reported most of the victims were located in two cars near the engine, which overturned.

The cause of the crash and how many passengers were on the train were not immediately known, said Javeed Ahmed, director general of police for Uttar Pradesh, the state where Kanpur is located.

However, the Times of India cited unnamed railway sources as saying a rail fracture might be to blame.

"We woke with a jolt at around 3 a.m. Several coaches were derailed, everybody was in shock. I saw several bodies and injured people," passenger Krishna Keshav told the BBC.

"Anguished beyond words on the loss of lives due to the derailing of the Patna-Indore express. My thoughts are with the bereaved families," India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.

Anguished beyond words on the loss of lives due to the derailing of the Patna-Indore express. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 20, 2016