Maligaon ( Assam ), June 17 : A Kanchanjunga Express on Monday met with an accident in West Bengal’s Siliguri. The train, en route to the Sealdah station in Kolkata, met with an accident when a goods train hit it from behind in the Rangapani region in Siliguri.
The accident took place soon after the train started its journey from the New Jalpaiguri Railway Station in Bengal. At least 2 compartments of the Kanchanjunga Express derailed as a result of the massive collision, with one of the coaches suspended in air.
A press release from NF Railways informed, T/No. 13174 DN ( Agartala – Sealdah) Kanchanjunga Express had meet with a collision from the rear end by a GFCJ Container freight train between Rangapani (RNI)- Chattar Hat (CAT) section at Katihar (KIR) Division of N.F. Railway. The accident occurred at about 08:55 hrs. Rear 04 coaches of 13174 DN and 05 containers of freight train (GFCJ) with front train engine.. At around 09:57 hrs. Rear Engine of 12872 Howrah Ispat Express left Aluabari Road (AUB) for clearing the front portion of 13174 DN
NF Railways have confirmed that at least 8 passengers have died and around 25 have been injured in the accident so far. Among the 8 people who have lost their lives in the accident are the driver, assistant driver and the guard.
Jaya Varma Sinha, Chairman and CEO, Railway Board said at a press conference, “Driver and assistant driver of the goods train and guard of Kanchenjunga Express train have died in the incident.”
“The situation is serious. The incident occurred when a goods train rammed into Kanchanhunga Express,” Additional SP of Darjeeling Police Abhishek Roy told news agency ANI.
Sinha said that the prima facie investigation into the accident suggests human error as a cause. “8 deaths, 25 injured in this accident. Prima facie suggests human error as the cause. The first indications suggest that this is a case of signal disregard. Kavach needs to proliferated, planned for West Bengal,” she said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives, adding that Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is on the way to the site of the mishap.
“The railway accident in West Bengal is saddening. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. Spoke to officials and took stock of the situation. Rescue operations are underway to assist the affected. The railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is on the way to the site of the mishap as well,” he tweeted.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee expressed concern over the accident. She added that the District Magistrate, doctors and ambulances have been rushed to the spot.
“Shocked to learn, just now, about a tragic train accident, in Phansidewa area of Darjeeling district. While details are awaited, Kanchenjunga Express has reportedly been hit by a goods train. DM, SP, doctors, ambulances and disaster teams have been rushed to the site for rescue, recovery, medical assistance. Action on war-footing initiated,” she wrote on X.
Calling the incident ‘unfortunate’, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the Railways, NDRF and SDRF are working in close coordination.
“Unfortunate accident in NFR zone. Rescue operations going on at war footing. Railways, NDRF and SDRF are working in close coordination. Injured are being shifted to the hospital. Senior officials have reached site,” he wrote.
As per a PTI report, “Three rear compartments of the express train derailed under the impact of the collision from behind by the locomotive of the goods train, railway officials said. Rescue operations are underway at the spot, about 30 km from North Bengal’s New Jalpaiguri station, and the injured persons were being shifted to nearby hospitals.”
Moreover, the Northeast Frontier Railway said that an emergency medical team has been rushed to the spot. A helpdesk has also been set up at the Sealdah station in connection with the matter.
(With Agency inputs)
