Maoists bombed a major railway line in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district late Thursday evening, derailing the engine and several coaches of a passenger train going from Jamshedpur in Jharkhand to Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh.

Unconfirmed reports said between six and eight coaches of the 321 Tatanagar-Bilaspur Passenger had gone off the tracks.

According to a PTI report, the derailed coaches were believed to be carrying CRPF personnel.

At least seven people were feared dead and an estimated 4 5 injured.

The explosion occurred near Pasaita village, 5 km before Manoharpur in the Manoharpur-Pasaita section of South Eastern Railway’s Chakradharpur division at around 9.10 pm.

“Maoists blew up a portion of the track, which caused the derailment. Three bogies have been badly damaged,” PTI quoted Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee as saying.

“I am monitoring the situation and have asked senior railway officials to rush to the spot,” she said.

Divisional Manager (Operations), Chakradharpur Division, Haranadh, said the number of casualties was not known.

A large number of JMM political activists were believed to have been travelling by the train.

The Maoists have given a call for a bandh in the area from Friday.