Moscow: An explosion in a train heading for Russia's Southern town of Mineralnye Vody killed 31 people and injured 80, Emergency Ministry officials said early today (Dec 5, 2003).

Rescuers and investigators rushed to the site of the blast, which ripped through one of the train's carriages a few kilometres away from the town of Essentuki, officials said.

It was not immediately clear what caused the blast.

Agencies