At least nine people were killed and 25 others were injured on Monday after the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express was hit by a goods train in West Bengal’s New Jalpaiguri.
According to reports, three coaches at the back of the Kanchanjunga Express derailed between Neechbari and Rangapani stations under the Indian Railways’ Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) zone due to the impact of the goods train and fell to the side. Meanwhile, rescue work to get the trapped passengers out was affected by the heavy rain that has been lashing Siliguri since the morning.
“Five people, including the loco pilot of the goods train, died on the spot. Twenty-five people are injured. We are trying to rescue those stuck. The local people are very helpful,” said Abhishek Roy, Additional SP, Kurseong, who is at the accident spot. The death toll rose to nine later in the day.
The accident, which took place on the main rail link from Kolkata to Siliguri, affected long-distance train services, officials also said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each deceased in the railway mishap. The injured will receive Rs 50,000.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told The Indian Express the two coaches that derailed were parcel coaches. He said, according to their information, there were two casualties. “A goods train overshot and collided with the Kanchenjunga Express. Rescue operations are in full swing,” said Vaishnaw, who is in the war room in Delhi monitoring the situation.
In a post on X, Vaishnaw said rescue operations are “going on at war footing” and that Indian Railways, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are “working in close coordination”. The injured are being shifted to the hospital and senior officials have reached the accident spot, he added.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed concern over the Kanchenjunga Express accident. “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,” Banerjee posted on X.
Darjeeling MP Raju Bista also expressed grief and said he was on the way to the accident spot to oversee the rescue efforts. “Honourable Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw ji has already mobilised the emergency medical teams, and the deployment of NDRF and Railway rescue teams,” he said.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
First uploaded on: 17-06-2024 at 10:19 IST
