Kanchanjungha Express collides with goods train in Bengal, death toll rises to 15, over 60 injured
In an unfortunate railway accident today morning at around 9 am Kanchanjungha Express collided with goods train in Bengal. Death toll has risen to fifteen, including three railway employees, and about 60 others were injured in the crash in Darjeeling district of West Bengal this morning.
Kanchanjunga Express was travelling from Silchar in Assam to Sealdah in Kolkata when a goods train hit it from behind near Rangapani station, close to New Jalpaiguri.
Three coaches of Kanchanjunga Express were derailed in the crash. One factor which limited casualties in the accident is the fact that the rear part of Kanchanjunga Express comprised of the cargo van and the guard’s coach and the passenger compartments were further ahead.
Railway Board chairperson Jaya Verma Sinha told the media that the accident took place around 9 am. “The rescue work is complete. The injured have been shifted to the North Bengal medical college and they are being provided the best possible treatment,” she said.
The unaffected front portion of Kanchenjunga Express, she said, will resume its onward journey soon so that the passengers can reach their destination.
The Kanchanjunga Express is a daily train that connects Bengal with the Northeastern cities of Silchar and Agartala. This route is in the Chicken’s Neck corridor, which connects the Northeast with the rest of the country. The accident on this line can potentially impact the movement of several other trains.
Another day another #TrainAccident
— 👑Che_ಕೃಷ್ಣ🇮🇳💛❤️ (@ChekrishnaCk) June 17, 2024
Where is the Kavach system?
Will @AshwiniVaishnaw take responsibility and resign this time atleast or continue by uploading Vande Bharat reels? #kanchenjungaexpress pic.twitter.com/kVFLWlR3fD
The Kanchanjunga Express is frequently used by tourists to travel to Darjeeling. The accident comes at a time when Kolkata and neighbouring south Bengal are reeling under a sultry summer and many are travelling to the hill station for some relief.
According to the information so far, the goods train overshot the signal and crashed into the Kanchanjunga Express. Teams of the National Disaster Response Force and ambulances have been rushed to the spot.
The Railways have released helpline numbers on which people could seek information about the situation. The numbers are 033-23508794 and 033-23833326 (Sealdah) and 03612731621, 03612731622 and 03612731623 at Guwahati.
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.
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) June 17, 2024
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has left for the accident spot. He has said in a post on X that rescue operations have started on a war footing. “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 said.
Sabyasachi De, CPRO of Northeast Frontier Railway, said no notification about diversion or cancellation of other trains on the route has been issued yet. “We will try to complete the rescue operation as soon as possible,” he said, adding that an accident relief train is on its way.
The news of the loss of lives due to a train accident in Darjeeling, West Bengal is deeply distressing. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured and success of relief and rescue operations.
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) June 17, 2024
President Droupadi Murmu said the news of loss of lives in the train accident is “deeply distressing”. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured and success of relief and rescue operations,” she said in a post on X.
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 Shri…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 17, 2024
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences for the families of those killed in the accident. “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 Shri @AshwiniVaishnaw Ji is on the way to the site of the mishap as well,” he posted on X.
The Prime Minister’s Office has announced a compensation of ₹ 2 lakh each for the families of those killed and an assistance of ₹ 50,000 for those injured in the accident.
