New Delhi, August 5 (RHC)-- Indian officials have confirmed the deaths of 12 people in two passenger train derailments in India's central Madhya Pradesh state.

"We have the unfortunate information that 12 deaths have taken place. We are still doing the search operation. Chances are less of this figure going up but still we can't say anything for sure," the Hindustan Times quoted Piyush Mathur, the chief public relations officer of the West Central Railway as saying on Wednesday.

The accident took place as two trains traveling in the opposite directions derailed within minutes of each other while passing a bridge just before midnight local time on Tuesday. According to reports, some of the cars of the trains plunged into a swollen river after derailment, which was probably caused by water on the tracks.