Brahmaputra Mail train bombing

Bombing of passenger train in India

This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (February 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

The Brahmaputra Mail train bombing was a terrorist attack on a train travelling in Western Assam in Eastern India on 30 December 1996. The bomb wrecked three carriages of the train and derailed six more, killing at least 33 people.

The bomb was of unknown composition, and had been left next to a line of track between Kokrajhar and Fakiragram stations. It is likely the bomb was detonated by a remote-controlled device, and timed to cause maximum destruction, as the Brahmaputra Mail passenger service to New Delhi came past at high speed.

Official reports claimed that 33 people were killed in the explosion, but the remote region in which the blast occurred and government desires to minimize the impact of the attack has led some commentators to question this figure. Some have claimed that 100 fatalities is a more likely figure.

The Indian government blamed the attack on a local separatist organisation, the Bodo Security Force, although there has been no claim of responsibility.

This was the first major incident involving Brahmaputra Mail, with a second occurring three years later in the Gaisal train disaster.

## See also

[edit]

* List of terrorist incidents, 1996
* 2014 Chennai train bombing
* 2006 Mumbai train bombings
* Jnaneswari Express train derailment
* List of railway accidents and incidents in India

## References

[edit]

* Asthana, N. C.; Nirmal, Anjali (2009). Urban Terrorism: Myths and Realities. Pointer Publishers. p. 171\. ISBN 9788171325986.

## External links

[edit]

* Short piece on the bombing

* v
* t
* e

Railway accidents and incidents in 1996 (1996)

* Jan 14   Hines Hill train collision, Australia
* Feb 9   Secaucus train collision, United States
* Feb 16   Maryland train collision, United States
* Mar 4   Weyauwega derailment, United States
* Mar 8   Stafford rail crash, United Kingdom
* Apr 21   Jokela rail accident, Finland
* Jul 2   Dniprodzerzhynsk tram accident, Ukraine
* Jul 24   Dehiwala train bombing, Sri Lanka
* Aug 8   Watford rail crash, United Kingdom
* Nov 18   Channel Tunnel fire, France/United Kingdom
* Dec 30   Brahmaputra Mail train bombing, India

◄  1995   1997  ►

This Indian rail transport related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

|

* v
* t
* e

This article about a suspected action, victim, or hostage of a paramilitary organization is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

* v
* t
* e

This article about a rail accident is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

|

* v
* t
* e

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template