9 dead, 43 hurt as goods train hits Kanchenjunga Express in North Bengal; Railway minister visits accident site

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 17, 2024

Nine persons, including two railway employees, were killed and 43 were injured, nine of them seriously after 13174 Down Agartala–Sealdah Kanchenjunga Express faced a rear-end collision by a goods train carrying containers between Rangapani and Chatterhat section under the Katihar division of Northeast Frontier Railway at around 8:55 am on Monday.

The incident took place about 10 km from New Jalpaiguri railway station.

All the injured persons are being provided adequate medical help.  

Even as the reason for the collision is yet to be ascertained sources said the goods train overshot the signal and crashed into the Kanchenjunga Express.

4 coaches from the rear side of the Kanchenjunga Express and 5 wagons of the container-carrying train got derailed blocking the train movements of both Up and Down lines. However, debris on the Up Line was cleared at 5:40 pm on Monday. Work for speedy restoration of the Down Line is also in progress.

The unaffected portion of the Kanchenjunga Express has left the accident site at noon for its onward journey.

On receiving the information, the Accident Relief Medical team along with men and machinery immediately reached the accident site within a short period to rescue and aid the injured passengers.

Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and NFR general manager Chetan Kr Shrivastava with other senior officials immediately rushed to reach the accident site.

On arriving in Siliguri, Vaishnaw rushed to the hospital to meet the injured patients. Vaishnaw personally interacted with the injured ones and also visited the accident site to take stock of the rescue and restoration operation.

Passenger rescue operation was completed. Adequate food packets and drinking water bottles were provided by the railway side to the stranded passengers. Help-line numbers were made operational at all important stations.

Indian Railways has already announced ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased, Rs 2, 50,000 for those who sustained grievous injury and Rs 50,000 to each who sustained minor injury.

Three coaches of Kanchenjunga Express were derailed in the crash. One factor that limited casualties is the fact that the rear part of Kanchenjunga Express comprised of the parcel coach and the guard’s coach and the passenger compartments further ahead suffered less impact.

As a result of the incident, several trains were diverted from and to New Jalpaiguri railway station via Siliguri Juction, Bagdogra & Aluabari Road route. Some trains were also cancelled.

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.

The Kanchenjunga 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 Kanchenjunga 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.

NF Railway spokesperson Sabyasachi De said no notification about the 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.

Railway Board chairperson Jaya Verma Sinha said: “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.”

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has said doctors and disaster response teams 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, and medical assistance. Action on war footing initiated,” she posted on X.

President Droupadi Murmu said the news of the 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 the success of relief and rescue operations,” she said in a post on X.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to 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 Rs 2 lakh each for the families of those killed and assistance of Rs 50,000 for those injured in the accident.  

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said he was extremely distressed by the train accident. “The scenes of the accident are painful. Our heart goes out to the families of the victims. In this hour of grief, we express our solidarity and condolences to each one of them. We wish a speedy recovery to the injured. Immediate and full compensation must be provided to the victims,” he said.

Kharge alleged that the Narendra Modi government “has indulged in the utter mismanagement of the Railway Ministry”.

“As a responsible Opposition, it is our bounden duty to underline how the Modi Govt has systematically converted the Rail Ministry into a platform of ‘Camera-driven’ self-promotion! Today’s tragedy is yet another reminder of this stark reality,” he said.

Train accidents in the last 10 years, he said, were the result of the Narendra Modi government’s mismanagement and negligence. “Today’s accident is another example of this reality. As a responsible Opposition, we will keep raising questions on this scary negligence and make the government accountable.”