Eighteen people were killed and 145 injured after an engine and four coaches of a train derailed between Nagothane and Roha stations in Maharashtra, railway authorities said.

The accident happened at 9:40 am yesterday. The injured were rushed to a nearby local hospital. "Eighteen lives have been lost in the tragedy," Maharashtra I lome Minister R.R. Patil told the IANS news agency after visiting the spot.

"We are giving all possible help to the victims' families and providing medical attention to the injured," he added.

"The Railway ministry has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of dead, Rs 50,000 to the grievously injured and Rs 10,000 to persons who sustained minor injuries," a Central Railways press statement said.

Doctors of the Konkan Railways and other officials are assisting CR for quick relief and restoration work. Rescue teams are trying to extricate bodies that have been trapped inside the bogies that turned turtle owing to the accident.