The train collision happened around 9 am, with the goods train’s locomotive striking the Kanchanjunga Express from the rear, according to Northern Railway officials.
A tragic train collision in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district claimed at least 9 lives and left approximately 25 people injured on Monday. Officials reported that the accident occurred when a goods train collided with the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express, causing three passenger compartments to derail.
Rescue operations are in full swing as there are fears that some passengers might still be trapped inside the overturned carriages.
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The collision happened around 9 am, with the goods train’s locomotive striking the Kanchanjunga Express from the rear, according to Northern Railway officials. Fortunately, the casualty count is expected to be lower than feared since two of the affected compartments were primarily carrying goods.
Footage of the incident has surfaced on social media, depicting a scene of chaos as passengers attempted to escape, with the two trains visible in the background. Additionally, images show locals gathered around the accident site, assessing the damage.
The Kanchanjunga Express, operating under the number 13174, was en route from Agartala in Tripura when it was struck near Rangapani, close to the New Jalpaiguri station. The goods train was traveling from Agartala to Kolkata. Photos from the scene show the goods train’s wagon toppled beside the tracks and a compartment of the Kanchanjunga Express suspended in mid-air.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her shock over the incident and stated that emergency services had been promptly dispatched. “Details are still emerging… District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police, doctors, ambulances, and disaster response teams have been deployed,” she said on ‘X’, noting that a rapid response was underway.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu offered their condolences. Modi announced that he had spoken with officials, and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was en route to the scene to assess the situation.
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The Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) has announced compensation of Rs 200,000 for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Vaishnaw confirmed that the injured were being treated at hospitals and that rescue efforts were ongoing. “This unfortunate accident in the North Frontier Railway zone is being addressed with coordinated efforts by the Railways, NDRF, and SDRF. Senior officials are on-site,” he posted on ‘X’.