Suspected Maoists set afire at least 15 oil tankers of a goods train on Thursday after they derailed the train by blasting a railway track in Bihar's Motihari district, police officials said.
Police sources said Maoists first blasted the railway track that derailed the goods train and then set the oil tankers on fire. The incident took place between Jeevdhara-Pipra railway stations in Motihari.
East Central Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Dilip Kumar told rediff.com over phone that the fire was still raging as the tankers were carrying diesel.
"Till now it appears to be a handiwork of Maoists," Kumar said.
He said the Maoists set one tanker on fire, which soon spread to the oil tankers.
Senior railway officials rushed to the spot and were trying to contain the fire.
Train services in north Bihar have been disrupted as the main track has been blocked, railway sources said.
