Fifteen passengers died and 60 were injured when three rear coaches of the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express derailed on Monday morning, according to local media news reports citing officials. A goods train collided with the stationary passenger train at Darjeeling district in West Bengal.
Rescue operations are ongoing near North Bengal's New Jalpaiguri station, and the injured are being transported to nearby hospitals.
A senior police officer confirmed that the collision caused three rear compartments of the Kanchanjunga Express to derail. The loco pilot of the goods train and the guard of the Kanchanjunga Express also died, according to Railway Board Chairperson Jaya Varma Sinha.
The divisional railway manager of North Frontier Railway's Katihar division stated that the 13174 Kanchanjunga Express was traveling from Agartala to Sealdah when the accident occurred.
President Droupadi Murmu expressed her distress over the loss of lives. She extended her condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.
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.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his condolences and provided an update on the situation. He stated that rescue operations are in progress and that Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is on his way to the accident site.
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…
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on social media that rescue operations are ongoing and that senior officials have reached the site. The ministry will provide compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the families of the deceased, Rs 2.5 lakh for those with grievous injuries, and Rs 50,000 for those with minor injuries.
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.
Enhanced ex-gratia compensation will be provided to the victims;
₹10 Lakh in case of death,
₹2.5 Lakh towards grievous and ₹50,000 for minor injuries.Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw visits an injured at a hospital, after a collision between the Kanchanjungha Express and a goods train near Rangapani railway station, on Monday, June 17, 2024. (Source: PTI)
Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee confirmed that doctors and disaster response teams have been sent to the accident site.
Signal Defective Since 5:50 A.M.
The automatic signalling system between Ranipatra Railway Station and Chattar Hat Junction in West Bengal was defective since 5:50 am. This defect occurred in the area where the goods train collided with the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express, PTI reported quoting a railway source.
he Train No 13174 (Sealdah Kanchanjunga Express) departed Rangapani station at 8:27 am and stopped between Ranipatra railway station and Chattar Hat due to the signalling failure, PTI reported quoting the above source as saying.
Goods Train Driver Disregarded Signal: Railway Board
The collision near New Jalpaiguri happened because the goods train disregarded a signal and hit the Kanchanjunga Express, according to Railway Board Chairperson Jaya Varma Sinha.
An investigation is needed to determine whether the goods train was given permission to cross defective signals at speed or if the loco pilot violated the signal norms, sources told TI, adding that if the latter, the driver should have stopped the train for one minute at each defective signal and proceeded at a speed of 10 kmph.
(With inputs from PTI.)
Essential Business Intelligence, Continuous LIVE TV, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.
