Tragic Train Accident in West Bengal: Five Dead, Several Injured
In a tragic incident in West Bengal’s New Jalpaiguri, a goods train rammed into the Kanchanjunga Express, resulting in the deaths of at least five passengers and injuries to 30 others. The accident occurred around 8:30 am near Rangapani, approximately 11 km from New Jalpaiguri station, one of the largest and busiest stations in the Northeast Frontier Railway zone.
The Kanchanjunga Express, traveling from Agartala to Sealdah in Kolkata, was hit from behind, causing two of its rear bogies to derail. Immediate rescue operations commenced, with local authorities, including Additional SP Abhishek Roy of Darjeeling Police, reporting the severity of the situation.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is en route to the accident site to oversee the rescue operations. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), along with 15 ambulances, has been deployed to assist in the rescue efforts. Preliminary investigations suggest that the goods train overshot the signal, leading to the collision.
The North Bengal Rashtriya Paribahan Nigam (NBSTC) has dispatched 10 buses to assist stranded passengers, and additional bus services from Siliguri to Kolkata will be operational from the afternoon. The incident has prompted immediate action from various officials, including the Divisional Railway Manager and Chief Public Relations Officer of Northeast Frontier Railway.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her shock and announced that DM, SP, doctors, ambulances, and disaster teams have been rushed to the site for rescue, recovery, and medical assistance.
Help desks have been set up at Guwahati and Sealdah railway stations to provide information and assistance. The railway board officials are closely monitoring the situation, and a thorough investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the accident.
#WATCH | West Bengal | Wagon of Kanchenjunga Express train suspended in the air after a goods train rammed into it at Ruidhasa near Rangapani station under Siliguri subdivision in Darjeeling district today; rescue operation underway pic.twitter.com/rYnEfC3vic
— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2024
#WATCH | "Five passengers have died, 20-25 injured in the accident. The situation is serious. The incident occurred when a goods train rammed into Kanchenjunga Express," says Abhishek Roy, Additional SP of Darjeeling Police. pic.twitter.com/5YQM8LdzLo
— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2024
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
