Two high-speed trains collided near Urda in Spain on Wednesday. India has asked its nationals on those trains, or their families, to contact its Madrid embassy.
Updated: 29 October 2026, 10:00 IST
Quick Read:
- At least 68 people died and dozens were hurt when a high-speed train hit the rear of another train near Urda, Toledo, Spain, on 28 October 2026.
- The early count was 64 dead. It later rose to 68 as rescue work went on.
- India’s embassy in Madrid gave an emergency number (+34 650 339 008) and email (cons.madrid@mea.gov.in) for Indians on the trains and their relatives.
What happened near Urda
A high-speed train rammed into the rear of another train early on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, near Urda station in Toledo province, about 120 km south of Madrid. The crash was on the high-speed line linking Madrid and Seville.
The accident happened at about 8:54 a.m. local time, AP7am reported, citing the time as 0754 GMT. Several carriages derailed. Some fell down an embankment. Rescue teams with trained dogs searched the wreckage.
The death toll rose during the day. Regional emergency services first reported 64 deaths and 58 injuries. Later reports put the toll at at least 68 dead and dozens hurt. PTI, cited by NDTV and the Economic Times, reported at least 68 dead.
That rise is normal in a large crash. Early counts cover bodies found first. Later counts add bodies found in crushed carriages. Officials warned the figure could rise further as search work continued.
Why the trains collided — what is known, what is not
Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente spoke at a press conference in Madrid on Wednesday. He pointed to a computer communication failure that disabled the LZB railway safety control system. That failure halted trains over a 63-km stretch of line.
Puente then pointed to a decision by a railway control centre. The centre authorised a Renfe train to resume its journey despite a red signal, while another train, run by Iryo, stayed stationary on the track. Puente called that decision “inexplicable.”
That is the minister’s account, not a final investigation finding. The formal investigation is still going on. It will look at both the technical failure and the control-centre decision. Trade union CSIF demanded the transport minister’s resignation and called for an urgent, rigorous, and transparent investigation.
Spain began three days of national mourning from Thursday. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said emergency services were working on the ground with all relevant authorities. He wrote, “My thoughts, solidarity, and support go out to all the victims and their families.”
This is Spain’s second fatal railway disaster in less than a year, Outlook India reported. That fact has raised fresh questions about rail safety, working hours, and infrastructure upkeep in Spain.
India’s advisory: who should call, and where
India acted on Wednesday. The Embassy of India in Madrid posted a notice on X for Indian nationals. The notice covers two groups: Indians who were travelling on the affected trains on 28 October 2026, and their relatives.
The embassy asked them to contact the Madrid mission for help. The contacts given in the notice, as reported by NDTV, the Economic Times, and Telangana Today, are:
- Embassy emergency number: +34 650 339 008
- Email: cons.madrid@mea.gov.in
- Renfe: 900 10 10 20
- Iryo: 900 001 403
Families in India who cannot reach a relative who was on a Madrid–Seville high-speed train on Wednesday should use the embassy email first, with full name, train details if known, and a contact number. Share the embassy contacts with anyone who may need help. Do not share unverified victim lists from social media.
Were any Indians killed or hurt?
No Indian casualty figure was reported in the sources checked for this post.
NDTV, the Economic Times, Telangana Today, and NewsBytes all report the embassy advisory and the overall toll of at least 68 dead. None of them, in the reports checked, gives a confirmed number of Indian dead or injured. This post does not invent one.
If the embassy later confirms Indian casualties, that update should be added as a separate, sourced paragraph. Until then, readers should treat “Indian helpline opened” as the confirmed India fact, and “Indian casualties” as unconfirmed.
What Indian travellers in Spain should do
If you are in Spain and were due to travel on the Madrid–Seville high-speed line, check Renfe or Iryo updates before going to the station. Services on that stretch may face delays or changes while investigation and repair work goes on.
Keep your passport, ticket, and embassy number in one place. If you are a tourist, tell your hotel or host where you are travelling. If you are a student or worker in Spain, tell a friend or family member your train time. Small steps like these help rescuers and embassies find people fast after a crash.
The India angle here is not the crash itself. It is the speed of the advisory. The embassy notice went out on the same day as the crash, before the final toll was known. That matters for families in India, who often learn about a foreign crash from TV first and wait hours for a name. A same-day helpline gives them one official place to call, instead of chasing rumours.
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FAQ
Q: How many people died in the Spain train crash?
A: At least 68 people died, per PTI reports on 28 October 2026. The early count was 64. Dozens were hurt.
Q: What is India’s helpline for this crash?
A: Embassy of India, Madrid: +34 650 339 008, email cons.madrid@mea.gov.in. Renfe: 900 10 10 20. Iryo: 900 001 403.
Q: Were Indians among the dead?
A: No Indian casualty figure was confirmed in the sources checked for this post. Contact the Madrid embassy if you are seeking news of a relative on the affected trains.
Sources: NDTV, 28 Oct 2026; The Economic Times (PTI), 28 Oct 2026; Outlook India, 29 Oct 2026; AP7am, 28 Oct 2026; Telangana Today, 28 Oct 2026.
