Kolkata: A tragic accident claimed five lives and left around 25 injured when a goods train collided with the Kolkata-bound Kanchanjungha Express in Darjeeling district, West Bengal, on Monday morning around 9 am.
The collision caused two coaches of the Kanchanjungha Express to derail near Rangapani railway station. The Agartala-Sealdah Kanchanjungha Express, which was stationary at the time, had three of its coaches derailed due to the impact.
“The number of injured people can increase anytime,” stated Abhishek Roy, Additional SP of Darjeeling Police.
Emergency teams from Disaster Management, Railway, and Police departments have rushed to the scene, and rescue operations are currently underway. The Kanchanjungha Express is a popular train for tourists and locals traveling between the southern and northern parts of West Bengal.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw posted on X, “Unfortunate accident in NFR zone. Rescue operations are ongoing at a war footing. Railways, NDRF, and SDRF are working in close coordination. Injured are being shifted to the hospital. Senior officials have reached the site.”
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also expressed her shock on X, stating, “Shocked to learn, just now, about a tragic train accident in Phansidewa area of Darjeeling district. While details are awaited, Kanchanjungha 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.”
Rescue efforts are continuing as authorities work to assist the injured and restore normalcy at the site.
Helpline Numbers:
Kolkata: 033-23508794, 033-23833326,
Guwahati: 0361-2731621, 0361-2731622, 0361-2731623
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the tragic train accident in West Bengal. In a social media post, the Prime Minister said, the railway accident in West Bengal is saddening. He paid condolences to those who lost their loved ones and prayed that the injured recover at the earliest. The Prime Minister spoke to the officials and took stock of the situation. He said rescue operations are underway to assist the affected and the Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is on the way to the site of the mishap.
PM Modi announced an ex-gratia of two lakh rupees from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. The amount would be given to the next of kin of each deceased in the railway mishap in West Bengal. The injured would be given 50 thousand rupees.
