Daily Times

PUKHRAYAN, India: Rescue and search operations kicked into high gears on Monday as the death toll from India’s train wreck rose to 146.

The twisted and mangled parts of the train were beyond recognition and rescuers worked throughout the night – picking through the wreckage with sniffer dogs in hopes of finding more survivors.

However, the search was called off on Monday afternoon as the last of the carriages was removed from the tracks. “We recovered eight bodies today and the rescue operations were called off as there is no hope for more survivors,” said National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Spokesman Anil Shekhawat.

At least 179 people are receiving medical treatments – 60 of whom are in a serious condition, said Indian railways Spokesman Vijay Kumar. “The railway track has been cleared and the restoration work is underway. The line will be fit for traffic in a few hours from now,” he added.