Tragic Kanchanjunga Express Train Collision in Bengal Leaves 9 Dead, 50 Injured
A collision between the Kanchanjunga Express and a goods train in Bengal has left 9 dead and 50 injured. Rescue operations are ongoing, and aid is being provided.
Tragic Collision Between Kanchanjunga Express and Goods Train in Bengal Leaves 9 Dead and 50 Injured, Rescue Operations Underway
Nine passengers including two Railway employees died and nearly 50 passengers received injuries in a tragic train accident between Kanchanjunga Express train and a goods train in Darjeeling district, West Bengal this morning. This mishap took place between Rangapani and New Jalpaiguri stations while Kanchanjunga Express was on its way to Sealdah in Kolkata, West Bengal, from Agartala in Tripura.
The accident occurred when two trains collided at about 9 in the morning, causing the spillage of three coaches of the express train. Thankfully, the tail end of the train, which consisted of the parcel and the guard’s coach, took most of the brunt and the resulting loss of lives in the passenger carriages that were situated even more ahead were relatively less. It came from the authority, as Railway Board chairperson Jaya Verma Sinha confirmed that rescue operation has been completed and those who were injured were rushed to North Bengal Medical College as soon as possible.
Bengal’s Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, was quoted as saying, ‘I was quite surprised about the incident, search and rescue teams and medical professionals have been sent to the area’. “Just learnt, a few moments back about a fatal train mishap in Phansidewa area in the Darjeeling district. As of now details are awaited, however it has come to light that Kanchenjunga Express was hit by a goods rail. DM, SP, doctors, ambulances, disaster management team, all have been dispatched on the spot for rescue, retrieval and providing first aid and medical aid. Operation launched
The Kanchanjunga Express that runs on the chicken’s neck route with a service running through Bengal to the northeastern cities of Silchar and Agartala is a daily service, making this accident particularly disruptive to regional train services. There is information that the goods train ran past a signal before reaching the spot, and hence the collision.
Currently, the Railway Minister of India, Ashwini Vaishnaw, is on his way to the crash location. He said that rescue operation is being carried out war like scenario with the help of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).The minister announced compensation for the victims’ families and injured passengers, offering ₹10 lakh to the families of those deceased, ₹2.5 lakh for grievous injuries, and ₹50,000 for minor injuries.
Authorities have released helpline numbers for information regarding the incident: 033-23508794 and 033-23833326 (Sealdah), and 03612731621, 03612731622, 03612731623 (Guwahati). The Railway Ministry has also deployed an accident relief train to assist with ongoing operations.
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President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have expressed their condolences, with the Prime Minister emphasizing the swift response and ongoing rescue efforts. The Kanchanjunga Express, widely used by tourists heading to Darjeeling, faced this unfortunate event at a time when many were seeking respite from the summer heat in Kolkata and surrounding areas.
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